God Is Good All The Time!!

2009-06-08T13:33:00.000-07:00

Introducing Project Natal!!

Forget the Wii...what the xbox 360 is working on will blow it AWAY! I want one right now! It is an add-on to your existing 360 from best I can tell. Check out these videos...

2009-05-04T15:09:00.000-07:00

I'm Movin' On Up...

...into a deluxe hotel room in Pryor. Two weeks ago, I had a non-smoking room at the hotel. I'm laying in bed and in the middle of the night my room fills up with cigarette smoke. I realized it was coming from the room next door...those kind that have two rooms seperated by a locking door. I call the front desk...no answer. I decided to just get some towels and stuff under the door...it is late, I need to sleep. So I got up in the morning and stopped up by my horrible allergies (not to mention I could smell cigarettes on my clothes all day).

When I walked out of the hotel room, I checked the sign next door...sure enough the non-smoking portion of the sign had been removed. When I checked out, I let the lady know they might as well make my room a smoking room, too. She said that is the room where the overnight employees go smoke and hang out...which is why I didn't get an answer when calling the front desk.

I think they made it up to me this time...they took care of poor little ole me by putting me in the penthouse. The photos do NOT do this room justice...it is much bigger and nicer in person.

2009-04-28T19:47:00.000-07:00

On The Road...

Let's face it...I am out of town one night a week pretty much guaranteed. Some weeks it may be a couple days and a few full week (Mon-Fri). This past summer, I was in Muskogee 12 straight weeks for a HUGE network upgrade...I'll spare you the details because I know it would bore the non-techy people.

Well...every now and then I have to go back to Muskogee for little things here and there to help out. That just happened to be the case today. You know you have stayed somewhere way too much when you walk in the hotel and see your name on the marquee. haha! On top of that...the manager came out to check me in, gave me a big suite, a free bottle of water, and some codes for the website if I want to stay at any La Quinta when the company isn't picking up the tab.

.

2009-03-27T08:21:00.000-07:00

Day With Dad...

Growing up, I always wanted to spend time with my dad. Whether it was him taking me to OU games, going to work with him during the summer, or just hanging out watching action movies on the weekend...I just wanted to hang out with him.

As you grow up and become an adult, sometimes things just get so busy and hectic that you tend to miss out on just hanging out. Now with a family of my own, it just doesn't happen. We all try to get together as a family as much as we can, a Saturday here and there. I love my parents so much, I know I wouldn't be the man I am without them in my life. I know that they would do anything for us!

Well, I had the chance to spend an evening with my dad last week. It was so fun and just nice getting to hang out by ourselves. He met me right after work for a yummy chicken fried steak from one of our favorite places, The Chuck House. You can't beat a good chicken fried steak with a potato side and toast for $6!

After dinner we headed for downtown OKC to attend the OKC Thunder vs. Chicago NBA game. He had not been to a Thunder game yet. I had given my parents tickets back when the Hornets were in town, but they were way up in the upper deck. I had a chance to let my dad come sit with me down on the front. Unfortunately, the Thunder lost the game...but we just had fun being together for the night.

2009-03-13T13:33:00.000-07:00

What's Happenin'...

It has been a month since my last post. I have been running around like crazy. If it isn't work, then I am at home trying to make life a little easier on my wife. In case you didn't know, she is now about 2 months pregnant.

We are VERY excited! She has been VERY sick so far. When she was pregnant with Addy, she was in the hospital all the time due to dehydration. Also, the only medicine that seemed to help was one they give to chemo patients...but it is $5 per pill and two pills a day. That adds up! Plus, she is trying to go as natural as possible and doesn't want to just medicate for everything.

I try to do whatever I can to help her out and just ride the roller coaster. haha! I just can't wait for the baby to join the family!

2009-02-19T16:17:00.001-08:00

At A Desk...I Wish!!

Some people might hear that I am a Computer Tech/Network Maintenance thinking that all I do is just sit at a desk...and THINK that I have a cush job. Well, since I am a "hard worker, that doesn't mind doing anything to help out"...I get to occassionally help out in many different areas. I have spread manure all around a school to fill in ruts that one of the lifts left with the ground being moist. I have pulled so much cable both inside buildings and up on the lift pulling aerial fiber. I have hauled a 100 pound network switch up a garage attic (yes, a school has a network closet in an attic) and carried the old one back down. I have installed numerous networks, and have unboxed/installed 500 computers/monitors in an entire district by myself...just in time for school to start. I have had my shoes literally melt to the roof at a local high school (pulling aerial fiber) because it was over 100 degrees outside. I have been swarmed by a hundred bats, hornets, and even a mouse fall on my head out of a ceiling. Life on the job is fun!

Today was a first for me, I got a crash course on installing burried fiber cabling. Needless to say...I am a little tired this evening!

2009-02-10T21:34:00.000-08:00

25 Random Things About Me...

Why not!?!? I keep getting tagged to do this...I can't let my fans down. Here it is:

1. I have watched every single OU football game either on tv or in person since I was 15...and watched everytime they were on tv since I was about 10.

2. In High School, I shot around in the Lloyd Noble arena while ESPN Camera crews were setting up for an OU game...the camera guys walked up to me curious if OU was recruiting me. AWESOME!!

3. I love playing video games...something I really miss spending time doing. Too much going on with work and family, it takes a backseat. I would totally be content being locked in my bedroom playing NCAA Football video game for a whole weekend...as long as someone brought me food, of course.

4. Speaking of NCAA football video game...I have never been beaten! I have literally played millions of games on there and against several people.

5. I really love carpentry and woodwork...I would really love to learn how to do it and be good at it. I also wouldn't mind making a career out of it.

6. I have had 14 vehicles since I was 16...and I am 28.

7. I remember telling my Mom that I didn't want to work in the IT field after graduating high school (while temping with Mid-Del Schools 2 years during HS)...I have now been working in IT for a total of 11 years...9 being with my current employer).

8. I have never been able to attend an OU-TX game....I Know!!!

9. I am so afraid of heights that I don't even like the ferris wheel or high dive.

10. I am a somewhat picky eater...pretty much a steak and potatoes kind of person.

11. Also, if I don't have some sort of meat during the day, it makes me feel drained.

12. I end up sitting behind my wife and brushing her hair pretty much every night...just because I know she enjoys it.

13. I don't like the long drive home from work (28 miles and about 50 minutes)...but I actually like it in the mornings because I spend it in prayer/reflection. On my way home, I am praying, too...just praying as I grasp the steering wheel at a dead stop on I-35.

14. I enjoy waking up earlier than I need to for work...that way I don't feel rushed and can pace myself. Even though I enjoy it, I still end up waiting in bed for the last possible minute and end up scrambling around!

15. I really want to build my next house with my own hands. I think it would be even more awesome knowing that you did it yourself.

16. I know that because I still feel the satisfaction when I think about the wood flooring. My father-in-law and I installed about 1,000 sq ft of it in about 16 hours, over a Saturday and Sunday. My knees still remember that feeling!

17. I don't spend money at all (no shopping at stores or online), there is only one thing that I really like and that is eating lunch with the guys at work. I wish I could find a way to do that (with eating wherever we are) without spending money. I have a hard time letting that go sometimes. It is nice to just get away from work, hang out, eat food, etc...but $30-40 per week, $120-160 per month, yeah!

18. I have never been in the hospital or had any surgeries. I've only had a few doctor office visits from being sick and a few x-rays making sure I didn't break any fingers or have any cartlidge torn in my knees (I had knee problems my Jr & Sr year and a couple years after HS).

19. I lived next door to Jason White (Former OU QB and Heisman winner) for 2 years during his playing days at OU. I became really close friends with him and his family...and I also became the personal computer tech for the OU football team.

20. I have got to hold the Heisman Trophy...that is something I will never forget. It is definitely much bigger and heavier then it looks on tv! Thanks Jason!

21. I have a HUGE Michael Jordan collection of cards and lots of memorabilia...I even have a Michael Jordan rookie card in mint condition. I want to sell it all, but no idea where to even begin.

22. I have thought a few times about a tattoo, but I don't even like needles when drawing blood or shots. I don't think that will ever happen.

23. I played the drums in a praise and worship band for about 4 years. Fortunately and unfortunately, we all got married and some moved away...and kids came. It really was a blast and nerve racking sometimes...because we would literally walk on stage in front of 100 people with only a quick run through before people walked in. We were too good to practice! Just kidding...that really shows the power of God, just that He was able to use the noise of our instruments for His glory!

24. I absolutely HATE yard work...I would rather do just about anything else. It isn't even a one time thing...it has to be done about twice a week at times. And why is it required during the hottest time of year!?!?

25. My wife just gave me my first waxing on my chest. The first pull didn't hurt too bad, and I made the mistake of saying so. She let me have on the second pull by making sure she went right down the middle with lots of hair.

2009-01-25T15:29:00.000-08:00

Lead The Pack...

I will be the first to admit that I lack leadership skills and not real sure where to even begin to be the leader of my family. I tend to flow toward the pleasing others and being passive, instead of taking a stance and making a decision. I decided to take a deeper look into what it really means to be "the leader" of my family.

To the woman He said: “I will greatly multiply your sorrow and your conception; In pain you shall bring forth children; Your desire shall be for your husband, And he shall rule over you. Genesis 3:16 (NKJV)

For the husband is head of the wife, as also Christ is head of the church; and He is the Savior of the body. Ephesians 5:23 (NKJV)

Imagine the relationship between Adam and Eve in the garden before sin, before being tempted to take of the forbidden fruit. Truly, without sin we would be able to coexist as husband and wife with the same goals and with the same desire. We’d have no problem loving and yielding to one another. We would seek each other’s desires above our own, and we would see this as the only way to do things.

However, sin did enter the picture....along with pride, selfishness, and other self sins. This is why, I believe, God intended for a woman’s desire should be to her husband, and he would be the ruler over her. Someone has to be the leader...the person that would take responsibility and make the final decisions. For anything to function in a timely manner, there has to a be a decision maker.

In the family, God ordained the man to be the final authority, the one to rule over the family. Since He is the Creator, He had the choice. He created man first. He chose to make covenants with man. Man was what His Son came as. There are many reasons why He could have chosen the man, but He only knows the exact one.

That headship does not come as a master leading a slave, however. It comes with responsibility. Husbands...you are responsible for what your wife does, how she raises your children, and for her growth in the Lord. Christ doesn’t head the church by ordering it around and not taking responsibility for maintaining it, loving it, caring for it, and seeking its best interest!

Jesus laid out leadership for his disciples (the twelve that followed Him physically and us today) that we would lead through serving. He demonstrated this by washing His disciples feet. Husbands, we should not be lords over our wives, but we’re supposed to be caring and serving our wives and seeking the best for the family.

It’s quite the responsibility to be the leader in a Christian home! When I die, I have to stand before the Lord and give account for myself and my family...nobody else can do it for you! It is our responsibility.

2009-01-07T16:39:00.000-08:00

OKC Thunder!

Liz and I were given tickets to the Thunder vs. Knicks game last night. We had a blast, even if it was a weeknight. Did I mention they were front row!!!! The only thing in front of us were the seats on the floor. I wish I had my camera on me...these not-so-top quality pictures are off the phone.

2009-01-06T10:40:00.001-08:00

Office Lunch!

Yeah...look at me, I'm blogging! We had an awesome time on our vacation, and hopefully I will blog about that in the next few days with pics and all. I'm gonna TRY and do better...but no promises. Life just gets busy, then a day becomes a week...a week turns into a month...etc. I was just killing time and thought I would vent my frustrations of the office lunch!

For 8 years, everyday that I'm in the office there are a few of us that go out for lunch. We never do the sit down restaurant types, it is always McDonalds, Braums, Chick-Fil-A, pizza buffet...etc. Lately, I have been trying to do better about spending money and being a little healthier, though it is more about money! ;-)

So I bring my lunch and start to eat. You know how it is...ham and cheese sandwich, tuna salad sandwich, pb&j sandwich, or some sort of leftover. I sit down and begin to eat my sandwich with chips...do a little internet surfing on my lunch break.

Then one guy comes in with a fast food sack....the aroma fills the room. He sits down to one side of me with his Braums sack....man that looks good and smells great. I try to ignore it and get back to my sandwich....now I'm depressed because I would MUCH rather be having that.

A few minutes pass and as soon as the elevator opens you can smell that McDonalds sack getting out. Now the other side of me the guy is eating that...MAN!!! In a few moments later, another one with McDonalds. Why do they TORCHER me. At least when I'm on the road, I don't have to smell and watch others having that...I can eat my lunch in peace.

That folks is my story of the office lunch...it never fails, EVERY SINGLE TIME!!!

2008-11-24T12:23:00.000-08:00

"Spiritual" President?

If I were elected President (which I have no desire to be), there is only one thing that I KNOW for fact would be true. I would be on my knees before the Lord seeking His direction. I would pray over every decision. After being elected, I could not imagine skipping church to workout at the gym. Well...that is the case with our President-elect. What can we do about it??? Some might say nothing...but we MUST pray daily for the leadership of our country. You can read the article here... http://www.politico.com/news/stories/1108/15902.html

2008-10-19T07:34:00.000-07:00

Surprise!!

My wife and I had hoped to getaway for the Fall Break weekend and go somewhere. That didn't quite workout, so we decided to take Addy to the OU Homecoming Parade. It is Addy's weekend with her dad, but he needed to pickup a birthday present. We picked her up for the parade and had a blast! The theme was "Once Upon A Time In SoonerLand" and so many floats had famous children movie themese. That worked out perfect this year for the kids. Addy got to see Polar Express, The Grinch, Alice In Wonderland, and her favorite Wizard of Oz....not to mention many others.

After the parade was over, Addy's dad picked her up near by. Liz wanted to hang out before the game, so of course I was fine with that. The kickoff was at 2:30pm, so I HAD to be home before then. It was about 1:45pm and I told her that we HAD to get going. She was "looking" for her uncle Charlie in hopes that he would go inside and get her one of those frozen lemonades that Liz loves so much.

We couldn't find him, so we started walking away from the stadium. Liz thought we might see him on the way away. Finally, Liz stopped me and let me know that she had tickets for the game. I was definitely excited...but let her know that she can't do that to me when it comes to OU football. haha! She knows how much I love OU and did something so awesome for me. It is stuff she does like that to let me know how much she loves me! We have now been to 3 out of 4 home games this season...sweet!!

2008-09-15T07:32:00.000-07:00

What Is Up My Brethren and Sisters!?!?

Yeah...I'm horrible. I have intentions of posting everyday, the next thing you know it has been a month or two. Things are going good. We are scaring our foreign exchange student to death...she must think Americans are crazy by now! Yeah...we are cool!

Yes, welcome to the Shipley household. Hey...at least we have fun!

2008-08-21T17:27:00.000-07:00

Home Sweet Home!

Life has been a bit crazy here. It is weird that we are having to adjust back to life together in the house. Unfortunately, Liz has had to do it all over the summer and live as a single parent...and forunately, I have been cleaned up after by staying in the hotel (gotta love housekeeping). After 12 straight weeks out of town (home on weekends), I have been in the office this week...which means I am home every night.

Another thing, I have been sleeping in a king-size bed all to myself....I am also having to adjust my sleep patterns as I am back to sharing a full-size bed with my wife. Trust me when I say that I am not complaining, though. I love snuggling up with my wife, and I enjoy being home with the family.

It has just been one crazy summer full of big jobs. It looks like things are starting to slow back down to normal.

2008-07-14T14:33:00.000-07:00

Christians Today...

I was just thinking about talking/witnessing/just living as Christ would. I have realized that I am not doing my job. Never did I think I was perfect or even really good at it...I have just realized that even my neighbor needs Christ.

Every time I pull up to the house....every time I leave the house, he is always sitting outside in his chair having a beer. He is eager to chat, and I am eager to get inside to the air conditioning. He is eager to help anyone with anything (yard work, cars, repairs, etc)...again, I am eager to get inside to the air conditioning.

No wonder people don't realize they are lacking a Savior...they know I go to church, they know I am a believer, etc...but they see me running inside, instead of serving others and sharing the love of Jesus!

Hopefully, this will serve as a reminder to all of us. We need to do something nice for others, and share the love of Jesus while serving.

2008-07-08T20:47:00.000-07:00

Strong and Faithful Marriage???

What is marriage? Everyone used to know. Collier's Encyclopedia 1969 says, "Marriage is a socially recognized and approved union between two individuals of the opposite sex...Over 90% of people in the United States enter marriage, and the great majority of marriages are broken only by death." Compare that to what we hear and see in the world around us. That doesn't mirror the way it was "in the old days".

The false messages which are accepted in American culture make it difficult for Christians to have good marriages. Paul warned Christians 2000 years ago to resist being pushed into the world's mold. We are under great pressure, and we must resist. Our culture scoffs at the idea of living by the Bible, an out-of-date, old-fashioned book of legends and myths. We are new, modern, educated...we can figure out for ourselves what marriage is, and what we want it to be.

But we believe in the Bible. We accept the Bible's authority about right and wrong. Marriage is from God. We didn't invent it.

Tonight, while being in the hotel out of town, the Lord just placed a comforting feeling in this area. I'm so glad that my marriage isn't "of the world". I'm so glad that I don't have to worry what my wife is doing while I'm away...and that she doesn't have to worry about what I'm doing on the road. I love the Lord, I love my wife, I love our marriage and relationship...and I know she feels the same towards me. I thank God everyday for blessing me with the perfect wife...she is my best friend and knows me better than anyone. Just like 1969...we are "old fashioned" in our marriage (and everything else in raising a family/living), and we want others to see God through us.

Note: Let me clarify one thing. I do believe there are circumstances that allow for divorce...and I'm not saying if you are divorced that you are not living by the Bible. This post is about faithfulness...not about abusive (physical, emotional, mental) situations.

2008-06-15T20:10:00.000-07:00

Happy Fathers Day!

It was quite the weekend. We took my parents and my niece to Incredible Pizza Saturday afternoon. She had never been, and we knew we didn't have much time left before she went back to Arizona. We had a pretty good time! Plus, it is always nice getting to take some agression out on my wife in bumper cars (or boxing on the Wii). I can't get in trouble for "playing" the game...right!?!? haha!

After that, we went out to my parents house to play....tada, the Wii. We didn't box...but we all played some bowling and tennis. They also bought this Wii Fit thing this past week. Let me tell ya...it is real encouraging when you step on the "board" and the game makes this "oooooooohhh" sound. Yes, I know I am fat...thanks for pointing that out. haha!

Today, we had a cookout with my parents, aunt, and Liz's mom. We really hadn't decided what we were going to do until about 2pm. All in all, it was a pretty good weekend. Now the fun part of going back to work for the man. Here is a little Fathers Day video to leave you with...

2008-06-10T18:59:00.000-07:00

It Is Official...

We just wanted to let you know that it's all official. We are excited to plan for our foreign exchange student's arrival on August 9.

Cherry (Szu-Han) is a 15 year old girl from Taiwan. She will be with us for her sophomore year of high school and return to her country when her VISA expires next June.

We're so excited about the powerful opportunity God has given us to show this girl His love and hopefully spread His word to countless others we will never meet. It is going to be so awesome to share differing cultures in the same house, while they get to experience America. Please pray for everyone involved. I know it must be very difficult leaving everything you've ever known (family, friends, sites, smells, etc) to go live a year with complete strangers in a foreign land. Also, please pray for us as we accept her as part of the family and try to share our faith, culture, and customs with her.

2008-06-08T08:34:00.000-07:00

Updates...

It has been a long couple weeks. I was in Ponca City for 9 straight days of driving back and forth. I was leaving the house by 6:30am (6:00am if I went by the office first), picking up 3 guys, and arriving there by 8:45am everyday. We would leave there at 3:30pm, drop off the 3 guys, and get home at 5:45pm. At least I was home every night...though, that was a chore for awhile because we were in the middle of major house cleaning.

My parents got a Wii, so we were over there playing for about 5 hours last night. I love it!!!! We have got to get one!

We have finished our Adoption classes at the end of May and awaiting our homestudy. After the homestudy, they will begin the matching process which could be 2 months or maybe a year. We are awaiting our fingerprints/background check through OSBI before they will do the homestudy. We are caught in between two processes and waiting.

Another development has taken place. We decided to open our home to a foreign exchange student for next school year. We had received an email from friends stating if they didn't find families to host, they wouldn't be allowed to come to the USA (it included profiles and essays from different students). It is all but official at the moment. We had our interview on Saturday, and they were calling our references over the weekend. Our background check passed, Norman HS gave a verbal approval (awaiting the official in-writing approval), and it looks like we will be hosting a 15 year old from Taiwan. Exciting!! I can't wait to learn about their culture, while giving her a chance to experience America.

2008-06-01T20:37:00.000-07:00

Random Thoughts...

Well, it is that time of year again. Kids are on summer break, schools closed, etc. That means that my job slows down, right? HA! This is the busiest time of year for me. Last week I drove back and forth to Ponca City everyday, and I will be doing the same again this week. Looks like an awesome mileage check coming my way!!!

I have so many jobs lined up this summer, including a $3 million job in Muskogee. I joked with my wife, saying see ya on the weekends. Truth is, I never know what is going to pop up and totally ruin whatever was "planned" for the day. Oh and I can't forget to tell the best part of working in schools during the summer....no air conditioning!!!

A thought of mine. Is it just me or does anybody else wonder how in the world they are going to make it through summer!?!? It is so stinkin' hot already! Last year, it rained so much in June...hopefully that starts, which would keep temperatures down.

We went over to another family's (from church) house on Friday night. Besides being in total awe of their house, I got to play the Wii. I have been wanting one, but after playing it...I REALLy would like one. After telling my dad about it, come to find out he has one on order. Yes!! I guess we will be spending some time during the weekends at their place to play.

For this month, my wife is hosting a women's bible study at our house on Wednesday nights. We have been "trying" to get the house totally clean. It seems we work most of the day, then look around and the house is messier. I don't think it is supposed to work that way. You should see progress...right?

The problem is that we have never been organized, so things don't really have a place. We just hide our "items with no home" in places people can't see. This women's bible study breaks into small groups and will use every room in the house. Uh Oh!! That means cleaning with with a capital C. We have our "to do" lists all planned for the next couple nights, so hopefully everything gets done.

2008-05-12T13:35:00.000-07:00

Co-Workers...

Next time, you might want to think twice about picking on your co-worker. Watch this video to see what happens when a guy is throwing paper clips at a fellow employee...

2008-05-10T15:25:00.000-07:00

Homeschool Day!

Last night we went to Frontier City for homeschool day. It was so awesome! This was our second year going to the event. The park is still closed to the general public and only open this day to homeschooling families. We love going on this day because you can literally walk up to ANY ride and basically get on.

This year we have been in touch with more homeschooling families through our church and "Educating For Life", a homeschooling group in Edmond, OK. We thought we would definitely see several families we knew...or at least recognized. We only came across one family that we knew...though it was good to meet Erin's husband, Jon, who just returned home from Iraq and their two boys.

Anyway, we had a blast and we look forward to going next year!

2008-04-18T16:18:00.000-07:00

How To Fix The Internet!

Okay...I am not a fan of South Park at all, but this was pretty funny! They were playing it at work today. Here is the synopsis...basically, internet went down worldwide. Because of that, millions of people decided to travel toward California because they just knew there would be internet there. News stations reported that there was not any news because the internet was down. Life was chaos! Well...I will let you see the rest for yourself. There are a couple parts for you, with the 2nd one actually how worldwide internet was fixed. Enjoy!

via videosift.com

2008-04-15T13:23:00.000-07:00

Love Your Wives...

"Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her." Ephesians 5:25

My wife posted about "Honor Your Father", which really got me thinking about how we should be toward our wives. I know I have plenty to work on as far as being a better husband, father, and leader. The least I can do is respect, honor, and love her...recognize and appreciate all she does!

"Husbands, in the same way be considerate as you live with your wives, and treat them with respect as the weaker partner and as heirs with you of the gracious gift of life, so that nothing will hinder your prayers." I Peter 3:7

For those of us who are husbands and fathers, we are to bestow “double honor” to our wives — first as wives, then as mothers. God has given us an awesome responsibility as the head of our household and part of that responsibility includes the way we are to treat our wives. God makes it clear to us as husbands our wives are to be cared for and treated with honor and understanding. They are equal heirs with us in God’s sight and worthy of honor. As God’s appointed leader of the household, we are to give our wives equal honor for they are just as important to God as we are. This is so important that we are warned that our prayers may be hindered if we do not offer our wives the honor they deserve.

One of the ways we can honor our wives is to praise them both publically and privately and be thankful for them. Proverbs 31:28 speaks of the godly man who blesses his wife and expresses his praise and thankfulness to her verbally and by his actions. A good, godly wife is extremely valuable and she generates trust in her husband’s heart by her dedication, hard work, fear of the Lord, and commitment to her husband and her family. In return, she is worthy of praise and honor.

When was the last time you made a special effort to praise your wife and recognize what she does for you and your household? Do you make a special effort to give her “double honor”? If you don’t, then maybe that is why God isn’t responding to your prayers. Give her the praise she deserves. The result will bless you in return and bring happiness to your home.

My wife is simply awesome! Everyday I come home, I don't know how she does it. Running an in-home daycare, homeschooling our daughter, taking care of paperwork/phone calls for daycare and personal stuff, cleaning house, and preparing meals...my fingers are tired just from typing all that. I recognize all that she does, and I appreciate it even more!

2008-04-09T05:56:00.000-07:00

Company Man...The Story

After posting the picture on the post below, my wife requested sharing the story behind it. I definitely don't want to come across as a goof. ;-) A couple weeks ago a couple of us had badges because we were going into a "sensitive" account. About a week later, they decide to make it required that all employees have badges made and always wear them. The lady that made our's was also making the new one's for everyone. At our annual company meeting, they took everyone's picture...but she didn't need mine or the other co-worker that had badges. She also said if there were any changes, she had our picture saved.

About a week later, they started passing out the new badges to everyone...they were a little different than our's. There was not a new one for us with the changes. The next morning (yesterday), we were sent an email saying they needed for the two of us to take pictures of ourselves and email them to her. We took each others picture, and we photoshopped ourselves into a Batman costume that we found online. The picture below was the one of me...obviously, we replaced the batman logo with our company logo. It was a laugh!

We got our new badges right before we left for the day. The lady making the badges decided to get back at us. On the back of our badges, we have "additional information" of the company and the picture of the "company man" is the background behind the words. Funny!

2008-04-08T12:07:00.000-07:00

I'm Company Man...

There is just something that happens when I step foot in the elevator at work...I can't explain it.

2008-04-07T07:56:00.000-07:00

Test Day!

Please pray for me. I have a Microsoft test today at 12:30pm...just right after lunch. It is the first in line toward becoming a MCSE, a Microsoft Engineer. After I pass this first test, I will be a MCP (Microsoft Certified Professional). I have been cramming all morning, and I feel like I am prepared. I will post a follow up after the 3 hour test to let you all know how I did. Thanks for the prayers!

2008-04-02T19:10:00.000-07:00

The Traveling Man...

This is day number two on the road. I have been camped out in Eufaula, OK for two nights while working in Quinton, OK. Let me set this straight...I have driven by the lake numerous times on my commute back and forth...I am so jealous of the people actually enjoying the lake. Pretty much all I have had some time for (other than work and dining, which I'll get to) is some studying done in the hotel...I have a Microsoft test on Monday afternoon (please pray for me!).

One of the benefits of being out of town for business...is (all together) food! Oh wait...maybe that is a something I enjoy and not all of you. The company gives us expense money to eat on, and I enjoy eating. haha! I hate being in new places and eating at food places we have back home. That is something my wife and I have in common...so I know she understands. I want to experience the town/area that I am in...I want to eat what I can only have there.

Tuesday night we drove all the way down to Krebs, OK (near McAlester), which is about 25-30 minutes from Eufaula. Apparently, some Italian immigrants settled there and are quite a few Italian restaurants there. One of them was Pete's Place, which is where we ate and is pretty "well known". If you are ever in that area, you'll have to give it a try. They have been there since 1925. It is like all you can eat Italian cuisine, and you are nestled in your own private dining area in this house (which is huge), and they keep the food coming. Basically, each room in this house is a private dining space...then within your area you can listen to music (or mute it like we did) and you can dim the lights to set the mood (unfortunately, my wife was home and I dined with 3 co-workers instead). If you are into the drinking thing, they have Choc Beer. If you are a non-drinking expert like myself...I had to ask what that meant. It is their home brewed beer, which you can read all about their history on their website (see link above). The food was really good, and I would like to take my wife on a weekend getaway sometime and stop by to eat there with her so she can experience it.

There is also this little diner in downtown Eufaula called J.M.'s, I think. They have an awesome breakfast and just really good food there, too. We had breakfast and dinner there today (Wednesday).

I am just ready to be back home in my own bed. It was nice to have study time, but there is nothing like being home with the family and sleeping in MY bed. Plus, I think I'm allergic to the laundry detergent they wash their sheets in...my legs, feet, and back are real itchy. I will be home tomorrow, so that is definitely a positive. Anybody else ready for the weekend? It seems like it has been a long week.

2008-03-25T10:30:00.000-07:00

Easter Weekend!

We had a mini-vacation for Easter. Some friends of mine asked me to come up to Owasso and play drums on Sunday. My good friend Doug Gregg (you can read his blog from the links to the right), his family, and a launch team (which also consists of several old friends and my old band pals) started a church up in Owasso, OK. This city has soared in numbers over the last few years. The statistics show like 70% of the city is unchurched...which is crazy numbers. Please pray for LifePoint and the city.

We (Liz, Addy, and myself) decided to go up Saturday after a wedding (Liz's cousin) in Choctaw Saturday afternoon. We decided to stay in a hotel for the night, despite numerous offers to be guests for the night. We got to swim at the hotel (indoor pool and hot tub) and just hang out some before band practice. We went by Doug's house, which is next door to where we practiced. We had a blast, and I had some serious nerves going. I was so nervous!!

I had not played the drums (minus some Rock Band on the 360) in 2 years. We got very little practice in before going live...maybe 30 minutes to a hour. It went very smoothly and Liz said everything sounded awesome! Maybe she is trying to make me feel good...but I know she tells me like it is. haha! Afterwards, we all went out to eat. It was a good weekend and lots of fun. I almost left out the 2 hours of setting up the church and 2 hours of tearing down...they meet in the 6th Grade Center there in Owasso. That was fun! They have a desire and passion to make it happen, and I know the Lord will bless that church! If you are ever in that area, please check them out!!!

2008-03-04T09:21:00.000-08:00

All About Me...

Name: Michael S.
Birthday: July 29, 1980
Birthplace: Midwest City, OK
Current Location: Norman, OK
Eye Color: blue-green
Hair Color: dark brown...though it is trimmed all off.
Height: 5'10"
Right Handed or Left Handed: Right
Your Heritage: My dad calls it "Heinz 57" because there is a big mixture...I know there is some Cherokee Indian on my dad's side.
The Shoes You Wore Today: Black flip-flops
Your Weakness: Being a people pleaser (it is a strength, too), but I have a difficult time making some decisions because I try to please others.
Your Fears: Something happening to my family.
Your Perfect Pizza: Pepperoni or Cheese...I'm very simple.
Goal You Would Like To Achieve This Year: Just getting closer to paying off debt.
Your Most Overused Phrase On an instant messenger: I don't use IM, except with the wife while out of town.
Thoughts First Waking Up: "How much longer can I sleep and still make it to work on time?"
Your Best Physical Feature: haha! I can't tell after all the weight I've put on in 2 years.
Your Bedtime: Whenever my wife lets me go to sleep...she is a night owl and likes me to stay up with her.
Your Most Missed Memory: Late night video games with friends.
Pepsi or Coke: I don't like Pepsi at all...but I am really getting tired of soda. I love sweet iced tea.
McDonalds or Burger King: I like them both.
Single or Group Dates: I enjoy both. My wife and I like our alone time, plus hanging out with other couples.
Lipton Ice Tea or Nestea: Lipton
Chocolate or Vanilla: I like twist...can someone please tell me why McDonalds quit having that?
Cappuccino or Coffee: I don't like either...gross! I'm too young to drink.
Do you Smoke: No way!
Do you Swear: No...I use my brain and can think of better words.
Do you Sing: Yes...everyday in the car.
Do you want to go to College: I made it only one semester, and I wish I would have finished.
Do you belive in yourself: Yes, I do.
Do you get Motion Sickness: Yes, very much so.
Do you think you are Attractive: Oh yes...I'm so fine!
Are you a Health Freak: Not as much as I need to.
Do you get along with your Parents: Very much so...I don't know where I'd be without them.
Do you like Thunderstorms: Not so much...that means children come wake us up scared.
Do you play an Instrument: I play the drums...I was in a praise band for 4 years.
In the past month have you Drank Alcohol: Nope.
In the past month have you Smoked: Nope...nasty.
In the past month have you been on Drugs: Nope.
In the past month have you gone on a Date: Yes...with my wife.
In the past month have you gone to a Mall: Just to run inside for some Chick-Fil-A
In the past month have you eaten a box of Oreos: Nope...not to say I couldn't.
In the past month have you eaten Sushi: Nope.
In the past month have you been on Stage: I don't think so...it has been awhile.
In the past month have you been Dumped: Nope...don't have to worry about that. My wife is stuck.
In the past month have you gone Skinny Dipping: Nope.
In the past month have you Stolen Anything: Nope.
Ever been Drunk: Nope.
Ever been called a Tease: Nope.
Ever been Beaten up: Nope...I was on the winning side growing up.
Ever Shoplifted: Yes...as a 6 year old, I took a package of Twinkies. When we got to the car, my mom spotted it and made me take it back inside to tell them. Never done it since!
How do you want to Die: Hopefully, in my sleep...though that is a scary thought to go to bed and not wake up.
What do you want to be when you Grow Up: I would love to do something involved with sports...like sports talk radio. I wish I would have went to broadcasting school and worked for the Sports Animal.
What country would you most like to Visit: I want to go see Italy, and I would love to go see Jerusalem and walk where Jesus did.
Short or Long Hair: I think shorter hair with style always looks the best.
Best Clothing Style: Whatever looks good
Number of CDs I own: I'm not sure...I just use iTunes with my iPod now.
Number of Piercings: None.
Number of Tattoos: None.
Number of things in my Past I Regret: None...everything that happens in your life makes you what you are today.

2008-02-13T10:32:00.000-08:00

What's The Plan? Pt 2

I apologize for the 2 week gap between part 1 and part 2...if you scroll down you can read the others for a refresher. Today we are going to discuss our Relationship With God.

We ask God to give us a complete understanding of what He wants to do in our lives. Then the way we will live will always honor and please the Lord. All the while, we will learn to know God better and better. Colossians 1:9-10

Have you ever lost touch with a really close friend? High School graduation singing "friends are friends forever" and have a big cry. I haven't seen most of my friends from school since that day.
Did you ever have somebody that you loved? You thought they were wonderful, then things went south. Mister Perfect turned into psycho guy...which led to restraining orders.

Have you ever known a married couple...they were so close. If anyone would make it, this couple would. Then one day, they split up. Makes you wonder if anyone would stay together.

Why do relationships go sour? Great relationships never happen by accident, and that includes our relationship with God.

Where there is no vision, the people perish... Proverbs 29:18

I know your deeds, that you are neither cold nor hot. I wish you were either one or the other! So, because you are lukewarm-neither hot nor cold-I am about to spit you out of my mouth. Revelation 3:15-16

Hot: You Are Growing

...your faith is growing more and more, and the love every one of you has for each other is increasing. 2 Thessalonians 1:3

From God's perspective, it is like watching his children grow up. We are born (saved in this instance), start crawling, start saying a couple words, standing up, walking...each new thing is so pleasing. It is wonderful as a parent to see your baby always advancing and doing better.

Cold: You Do Not Know God Yet

...He who sent me is true. You do not know (God), but I know Him because I am from Him and He sent me. John 7:28-29

Some of you that are even reading this, you might know OF God, but you do not KNOW Him. There is nothing we can do to earn our way...it is only by the blood of Jesus.

Lukewarm: You Are Drifting

We must pay more careful attention, therefore, to what we have heard, so that we do not drift away. Hebrews 2:1

My wife and I went on a weekend trip to a lake in Missouri. Hilarious weekend, let me tell you…I won’t tell you the entire trip, too long. This particular story is about us attempting to ride a jet ski. We are out on the lake, this was my first time on one. Liz decides she wants to drive. The people at the rental said you need to jump in the water to switch drivers. Also, if the jet ski goes upside down you have 15 seconds to get it back upright before it fills with water. You get where I am going with this. ;-)

Ok, we jump off and she tries to get back on. She can’t pull herself up onto it…so I am pushing her up from behind…still no luck. Finally, we decide that I will just get back on and help her up. I get up there in a few seconds and try to help her up. She is still having trouble and it pulls me off. We try again…this time I got her up…just as I got her up we flip off. When I gather myself and get the water out of my eyes…I see the jet ski upside down and it is drifting away. It was probably about 10 ft away from me. I have that lovely swim friendly life jacket on (haha!) and I’m trying to get there as fast as I can. You see, the rental lady also told us about the cost to replace one if it did sink. ;-) It is amazing how fast and such a little jump in the water can cause such a drift, without even realizing it. Now stop laughing at us…may God bless you and your family! On a side note…I still hear about how my wife lost her flip flops, and I didn’t save them. She also reminds me how on the first fall, she saved my flip flops and hat.

Many of us, if we were honest, would say that we have drifted from God. I used to be close to God…intimate and growing, now I have become lukewarm.

For those that have drifted...

You have forsaken your first love...Repent and do the things you did at first. Revelation 2:4-5

Essential Questions:

1.) What disciplines best help you experience God? There are certain disciplines that lead to certain results. Those of you that are extremely fit probably don't eat a gallon of ice cream in one evening. You probably eat right, exercise right, and sleep right. Your disciplines have led you to a healthy body. The same is true in your relationship with God. What disciplines best help you? Bible Study, Worship, Serving, Prayer, Fellowship, Missions, Fasting, Accountability, Etc. We are all unique...just like your children are different in ways, we all connect with Him in different ways.

2.) What barriers are hindering you from experiencing God? Just like there are disciplines to help us connect with God, there are barriers that seperate us from God. For example, in my marriage if I were deceitful and lied all the time...that would seperate the intimacy and trust that Liz and I have. If I told her that her hair looked bad and the food tasted bad, then I am just trying to commit suicide. There are things that seperate us from God.

3.) What do you put ahead of God? Whatever it is, it is idolatry. Exodus 20:3 says "you shall have no other gods before me". I'm not going to church, I can't miss the big game. I'm not passing out flyers for church, I'm playing golf with a couple buddies that morning. Which leads into the next question...

4.) What are you going to do to change it? We should not squeeze God into a time slot...we should make time. Mrs. Smith needs some light bulbs changed...I'll do it. This new married couple doesn't have groceries...I'll buy them. They really want to adopt...I'll help. We should be the church and do whatever we can to share the love of Jesus. Would Jesus look at his watch or pull out the planner to see if it can be squeezed in there? No! He would serve the people and share the good news!

5.) My vision for my relationship with God is _____________.

6.) I do promise God that I will ____________.

"I do promise God that I will rise early every morning to have a few minutes-not less than 5-in private prayer. I hereby vow to read no less than four chapters in God's Word everyday. I will cultivate a spirit of self-denial and will yield myself a prisoner of love to the Redeemer of the world." William Booth (not the guy who shot Lincoln...haha!)

2008-02-11T10:14:00.000-08:00

Sunday Adventure!

We got up real early Sunday morning for a Sunday adventure. Some very dear friends, Doug and Marnie...along with several friends, are starting a church in Owasso, OK. It is a city quickly growing and a whopping 70% are unchurched. You can read more about the church and their ministry here.

We left the house at 8am for Owasso, and we arrived about 10 minutes before service started. I have a lot of old friends that are helping start the church, including members of my old band. It was awesome to see them again...I had not seen them since our last performance in Wichita, KS a couple years ago. Jimmy, which played the keyboard and vocals in our band, is the Worship/Connections Minister for the church talked about me coming back up again, and playing the drums next time around. That sounds like so much fun because I haven't played at all the last couple years. It was so nice hanging out awhile with old friends.

After church, we headed to Tulsa to eat at one of our favorite restaurants...Cheddars! We love that place...good food at a great price! One of our friends gave us a nice present of $40 in Cheddar Bucks...it was awesome! I tried to eat expensive, which is pretty tough there...just to order something that I wouldn't normally and all. The food was so good! I hope Norman gets one soon...we hear a rumor that is the case.

After stuffing ourselves, we wanted to take Addy to the Oklahoma Aquarium. We had a good time. Here are some fun pics there...

2008-02-06T13:02:00.000-08:00

Something To Think About:

I haven't quit the What's Your Plan series...I've just been slow about finishing it. I have notes on it and all...I just need to take the time to figure out what to say. We have had some illness circling around the house since Sunday night. We are starting to feel better...hopefully, that continues. That was just a little fyi, leading into something to think about...

This man and his wife go on vacation to multiple islands. At each island they have reserved just a basic economy-size rental car. At the first island, he is trying to get his reserved car. The clerk informs him that there was a mix up and there aren't any economy-size rental cars left. They will give him a convertible Mustang instead, at no extra charge.

This continues at each island and each rental car. Each rental is a free upgrade to a better car. They wound up driving the convertible Mustang, Lincoln Town Car, Jaguar, and a Mercedes all together.

Upon arriving back home, the wife told her husband how much fun the trip was. His reply was, "Yes, if only the rental car company hadn't messed up our reservations."

I think that is how we are in life. We focus on what has gone wrong, instead of realizing God's blessings behind it. That's something to think about.

2008-02-03T10:11:00.000-08:00

Tithe Pie

When I was single, and even the first 6 months of marriage, I had never tithed. Every now and then I would give God some scraps...throw a $20 bill in the envelope. I would even throw a few bucks in the offering plate sometimes, you know friends around and all. I never did it as an act of worship or obedience to God. At the first of last year, to say that Liz and I were broke was a complete understatement. The house was about to be foreclosed and cars repossessed, we were definitely at the bottom of the barrel. We did this crazy thing....we gave money away. Really, we just returned to God what is already His. We tried it on our own, obviously that wasn't working. We took a HUGE step of faith and trusted that God would provide. Boy, did he ever. We have not been in the same boat since. We have been blessed beyond measure. We make it every month now...bills paid on time. It is amazing...PLEASE watch this video. It puts it all into perspective.

2008-01-31T18:07:00.000-08:00

Satan uses Turbo Tax...so do we

2008-01-30T19:36:00.000-08:00

“How Privileged Were You”

My mother-in-law posted this, and I thought it looked like it might be interesting to see how privileged I was!

It's important to note that this is copyrighted, so if you put this up on your blog, please note the following: From What Privileges Do You Have?, based on an exercise about class and privilege developed by Will Barratt, Meagan Cahill, Angie Carlen, Minnette Huck, Drew Lurker, Stacy Ploskonka at Illinois Indiana State University (ty Klady for the correction - see comments). If you participate in this blog game, they ask that you PLEASE acknowledge their copyright.

Bold the true statements.

1. Father went to college.

2. Father finished college.

3. Mother went to college.

4. Mother finished college.

5. Have any relative who is was an attorney, physician, or professor.

6. Were the same or higher class than your high school teachers.

7. Had more than 50 books in your childhood home.

8. Had more than 500 books in your childhood home.

9. Were read children’s books by a parent.

10. Had lessons of any kind before you turned 18.

11. Had more than two kinds of lessons before you turned 18.

12. The people in the media who dress and talk like me are portrayed positively. (I don't really understand this one...I guess so.)

13. Had a credit card with your name on it before you turned 18.

14. Your parents (or a trust) paid for the majority of your college costs.

15. Your parents (or a trust) paid for all of your college costs.

16. Went to a private high school (but on scholarship).

17. Went to summer camp.

18. Had a private tutor before you turned 18.

19. Family vacations involved staying at hotels.

20. Your clothing was all bought new before you turned 18.

21. Your parents grandmother bought you a car that was not a hand-me-down from them.

22. There was original art in your house when you were a child.

23. You and your family lived in a single-family house.

24. Your parent(s) owned their own house or apartment before you left home.

25. You had your own room as a child.

26. You had a phone in your room before you turned 18.

27. Participated in a SAT/ACT prep course.

28. Had your own TV in your room in high school.

29. Owned a mutual fund or IRA in high school or college.

30. Flew anywhere on a commercial airline before you turned 16.

31. Went on a cruise with your family.

32. Went on more than one cruise with your family.

33. Your parents took you to museums and art galleries as you grew up.

34. You were unaware of how much heating bills were for your family.

I had 19 of them....I was and still am pretty blessed!

2008-01-29T11:07:00.000-08:00

What's The Plan? - Part 1

This is part 1 of the life plan I talked about. This one is titled mission and values. In the intro I talked about stumbling. Most people go through life stumbling around, without a plan, without preparing, without passion, and without focus from God. I will be the first to admit, that is me.

Where there is no vision, the people will perish... Proverbs 29:18

Where there is no vision for a Godly family, 1 in 2 marriages end in divorce. Don't they?

Where there is no vision for financial freedom, we are in the richest country and be the most debt-ridden people alive. Aren't we?

Where there is no vision for a healthy body, I can just look in the mirror and realize that there is no six pack...it looks more like a keg.

When there is no vision, people wander through life and stumble. I can just listen to people here at work to know what their goal is. It is their goal to make to the weekend, pay their bills, if I can just get a raise, holding marriages together for the sake of kids, keep their children out of jail, and the list goes on. Where there is no vision, the people perish.

Craig Groeschel uses a word chazown (khaw-zone), which is the hebrew word for vision. It means a dream, a revelation, or vision.

Assignment - rate last week on a scale of 1 to 10. What is your rating based on? Not closing a deal at work, fight with your spouse, kids acting up, maybe your hair just isn't doing what you want? I know it is rough...you should be thankful you have hair. haha! If low, why? If high, why? You did close the deal, you had a date night with your spouse, kid got a good grade, the Sooners just got a huge commitment for next season. How do YOU define success? What does GOD say success is in your life? Everyone wants a great life, but most people don't even know how to recognize a great week...much less, how to create one.

What is your mission in life? I have a 2 part challenge for you, which will lay the foundation for the remaining parts.

1. Prayerfully uncover your values. What core values has God planted in you?

Our responsibillity is never to oppose the truth, but to stand for the truth at all times. 2 Cor 13:8

What is ultimate truth? God's Word...is living inspired truth. God has planted in our hearts a passion for searching His truth. Have you ever wondered why you care about something more than others? God has planted within each of us certain values. What are your core values? What do you stand for? Pray and try to come up with 5 to 10 core values for your foundation.

2. Prayerfully discover your mission. What is it that we are about? Why are we here?

But Abraham's servant said, 'I don't want to eat until I have told you why I have come.' 'All right,' Laban said, 'tell us your mission.' Genesis 24:33

To go through life without even being able to define what we were created for, is a tragedy. If I ask what is your mission...I hope the answer is more than to take life easy.

Paul: I consider my life worth nothing to me, if only I may...complete the task...of testifying to the gospel of God's grace. Acts 20:24

How do you define what your mission is? Fill in the blanks to that statement. I consider my life worth nothing to me if only I may _____________. What do you say there? If I did this...I would feel like I did what God called me to do.

Jesus: For the Son of Man came to seek and to save what was lost. Luke 19:10

Scripture also says what Jesus was not about. Your mission will tell you what you do and don't do. He said His mission was not to condemn but to bring freedom.

Many people have a vision for your time and resources. Even great people like family, friends, boss, and co-workers. They have a vision for what they want to see you do. Their vision usually doesn't line up with what God wants. Jesus told the disciples that one day He was going to give up His life and die on the cross. Peter had a different vision for Jesus and spoke up...

Peter took him aside and began to rebuke him. 'Never, Lord!' he said. 'This shall never happen to you!' Matthew 16:22

Start preparing your one sentence mission statement. I know it is tough....it is supposed to be. Why is this so important? Because we are called to do life as God has called us to, with the values He placed in our lives.

People have a different vision for my money...they have trained us to feel okay about being in bondage with debt. People have a different vision for what we eat...every fast food restaurant wants us to super-size.

People have a different vision for my family. We will live a simpler, less materialistic way than most. My wife will stay home and raise our kids...which we don't use birth control, we will let the Lord open and close the womb. We will homeschool them. We will be strict with them. They will help out with chores because we are a family. We will raise our kids up in the Lord and prepare them for the world before we send them out in it. People may say we are weird and aren't normal. Frankly, I see normal and don't like it. I'm in the public schools everyday, and it is scary. We plan to be weird, normal doesn't seem to be working. Bottom line, we don't answer to people on how we raise our kids...we answer to God.

You pursue what God tell you to pursue. Everyone ends up somewhere...but we will seek the heart of God, we will hear from God, and we will end up somewhere on purpose. What is God calling for you to be about?

2008-01-25T07:06:00.000-08:00

What's The Plan? - Intro

I tend to be like so many of you just stumbling through my daily life...without a plan. I don't know what is going on one day from the next. My wife is a planner. She absolutely loves lists, if you read her blogs you already knew that. She always wants to know....what's the plan? I say I have no idea, I fly by the seat of my pants....that doesn't sit well with her. If I were telling the truth, I don't like living that way either. Craig Groeschel puts it so well when he says "Everybody ends up somewhere, few people end up somewhere on purpose." We need to have a plan...a vision for all areas of our life.

"Where there is no vision, the people perish" Proverbs 29:18

I kinda think of it like a dart board. All the darts hit the board...some stick, some don't...all over the board. The question is...how many actually hit the bull's eye?

I am going to do a small series on here about a life plan, which I got from LifeChurch. My wife makes fun of me when I copy and paste, so I will use my own words mixed in with some of his. I'm hoping to develop my vision/plan for my family and me...during this series I will evaluate where I currently am and where I/We want to be.

This will be a 6 part series involving Mission/Values, Relationship with God, Relationship with People, Finances, Physical Life, and Work Life.

2008-01-21T17:46:00.000-08:00

No Place Like Home...

Since the new year, I have been out of town at least for one night every week. Matter of fact, it has been in Wagoner each week. I think this one is coming to an end, then it might actually be a few weeks before I am out of town overnight again. I'm ready for the break. I realize how much I love being with my family, when they aren't here. There is nothing like evening coversations and cuddles with my wife. I'm just tired of living out of the suitcase. There's no place like home!

2008-01-16T18:19:00.000-08:00

Mind Your Own Business!

I've been listening to a sermon series from LifeChurch.tv about finances. There are some amazing facts out there. Like...

95% of married couples fight about finances

Leading cause of divorce is financially related

Average American spends $1.22 for every $1.00 earned.

If you own a car, you are in the top 3% of richest people in the world.

66% of the parables Jesus spoke deal directly with finances and possession.

In the gospels, 1 in every 10 verses dealt directly with money.

In the entire Bible, over 2300 verses talk about money...5 more times than prayer and faith.

The rich rule over the poor, and the borrower is servant to the lender. Proverbs 22:7

For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also. Matthew 6:21

Let no debt remain outstanding, except the continuing debt to love one another. Romans 13:8

Craig also has this saying, "We will say NO for a little while, so we can say YES the rest of our lives.

With the statistic of $1.22 for every $1.00 earned...obviously, our treasure is in this world. If our treasure is in this world, so is our heart.

Free yourself, like a gazelle from the hand of a hunter. Proverbs 6:5

You can go watch the sermons here. They are AMAZING! I'm ready to make changes! Problem is we don't get mad...it is normal to us. Normal is car payments, house payments, student loans...normal is credit card payments at 19%. Normal is panic, worrying, stress, and fighting. Normal makes me mad...I want to be weird.

2008-01-07T19:01:00.000-08:00

Perfect Church!!!

Why do I have such lofty expectations of a church here in this world? I want to combine the preaching and music worship of LifeChurch.tv with the church atmosphere of a smaller, more intimate church. I want my kids to experience the close knit youth group that I went through...where you have the core group of kids from children's church through high school graduation as friends. A church where you know your children have awesome lessons for their age group every week from 1 year old to 18....and even into college.

Just curious...what are 5 things you want in a church? Obviously, same beliefs....what next? I'll start with mine...though it might change after hearing some others.

1. Awesome preaching...basically, Craig Groschel. I've had a few good ones...and a couple not so much. There is a huge difference in my walk with Jesus when I have the good ones...which is more of my fault for not doing more on my own.

2. Full band, or willing to if it had the people to play (you can even mix hymns in there with contemporary music). I absolutely love music worship at LifeChurch.tv South OKC!

3. Children's program...I want to know my children (and we will have plenty, Lord willing) are being taken care of. Obviously, being homeschooled, our kids will receive plenty of lessons at home...but I want them to receive it at church, and not babysat (even as a 1 year old).

4. A church with a heart for people...a selfless church will do AMAZING things. Also a "self centered" church ends up turning their back on the ones who need to hear the gospel, which is so important as christians...we are to spread the good news!

5. A church that is willing to try new things to reach the lost/community, as opposed to grasping onto traditions. How many have heard "we've never done that before"? I don't want to hear that at church...I want the church to do whatever it takes, short of sin, to reach the lost.

I am currently attending a church that is AMAZING at 4 of my top 5 things...but I feel lacks in one area. I do have a few doubts/concerns in a couple other areas...but is it all enough to leave seeking something I won't find?

2008-01-02T19:01:00.001-08:00

Christmas Vacation...

No...my vacation didn't rival the Lampoon's. I know that would make for a more interesting story, but it was still a good one.

First, I will let you know just how spoiled I am. Here is what I got:

1. pair of Dr. Martens

2. leather jacket

3. cologne

4. belt

5. RockBand...yes, I actually got the game.

6. Garmin Navigation system....can't believe I got it either.

7. Refrigerator...my parents are buying a new one and giving us their's that is only 2 years old (our's is 20 years old).

The day after Christmas we (Liz, Addy, and myself) joined my parents in traveling to Arizona to visit my niece, sister, and her husband. Unfortunately, we had to drive...long trip. We had a good time, but it is so hard to leave my niece...there were some tears. Here are a few pics at their house...the first one of Addy singing the nativity song, and the second one of Addy and Kayla opening presents.

While we were out there, of course we did some activities. We went to the Arizona Mills outlet mall, and I sure wish we had a mall like that here. We went to the IMAX theater to watch the Polar Express in 3D inside the mall, and while there we sat with the OU and West Virginia coaches' kids during their kid's day out. Here are a couple pics from the mall.

We also went to a place called Goldfield, Arizona...aka Superstition Mountain. That place was so cool. It is an old gold mining town...matter of fact there are still people there all dressed up that live in tents just outside town. Addy and Kayla panned for gold...Liz, Addy, and myself also went down into an old mine underground. It was very neat and interesting...getting to see what it was like. I strongly recommend going there if you are in the Phoenix area. Here are a few pics of that...

2007-12-15T19:10:00.000-08:00

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!!!

2007-11-21T08:55:00.000-08:00

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...

2007-11-21T07:00:00.000-08:00

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?

2007-11-16T10:35:00.001-08:00

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! ;-)

2007-11-06T10:44:00.000-08:00

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!

2007-11-03T09:26:00.000-07:00

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!

2007-10-26T19:56:00.000-07:00

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!

2007-10-24T13:50:00.000-07:00

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

2007-10-22T19:20:00.000-07:00

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

2007-10-18T16:43:00.000-07:00

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?

2007-10-18T16:08:00.000-07:00

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!

2007-10-11T18:34:00.000-07:00

AMAZING GRACE...

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

2007-09-25T20:14:00.000-07:00

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...

2007-09-22T18:22:00.000-07:00

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.

2007-09-18T08:06:00.000-07:00

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.

2007-09-12T15:10:00.001-07:00

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"

2007-08-29T16:34:00.000-07:00

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.

2007-08-28T19:14:00.000-07:00

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!!

2007-08-27T16:05:00.000-07:00

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

2007-08-21T18:20:00.000-07:00

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. ;-)

2007-08-11T23:13:00.000-07:00

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.

2007-08-09T20:44:00.000-07:00

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."

2007-08-06T17:42:00.000-07:00

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.

2007-07-28T18:04:00.000-07:00

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.

2007-07-22T20:10:00.000-07:00

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.

2007-07-15T19:38:00.000-07:00

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!

2007-07-14T20:56:00.000-07:00

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?

2007-07-14T19:47:00.000-07:00

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.

2007-07-11T15:13:00.000-07:00

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.

2007-07-11T06:00:00.000-07:00

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

2007-07-10T12:44:00.000-07:00

Cool Ministry

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

2007-07-10T10:57:00.000-07:00

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.

2007-07-10T08:45:00.000-07:00

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!

2007-07-09T07:59:00.000-07:00

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!

2007-07-09T07:28:00.000-07:00

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!

2007-07-06T11:42:00.000-07:00

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!

2007-07-05T08:05:00.000-07:00

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...

2007-07-02T12:34:00.000-07:00

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.

2007-07-02T11:43:00.000-07:00

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.

2007-07-02T06:02:00.000-07:00

Weekend Reflection!

Work...yep, that pretty much described it. I guess it really only describes it because it is Monday and the last thing I remember is all the work I did last night. We'll get to that in a few minutes.

Friday...well, I will pretty much have to start with my lunch break, so you will know what I had to unload on Friday evening. Liz was given a whole bunch (and I mean a whole bunch) of free textbooks, workbooks, posters, supplies, etc for homeschooling...the only catch is it had to picked up at noon on Friday. I spent my entire lunch break there and filled the entire SUV floor to ceiling, front seat to back door...there was enough room for me to squeeze in there (and the lady said in a week or two she will have another load ready for me)...not to mention that I loaded this all up in the rain, and the boxes had been sitting outside for a few days in the rain. Friday when I got home after work, I unloaded all of that in the garage. After unloading that, I had to load up a swimming pool/filter we bought last year at a garage sale (we did intend on setting it up...but too much of a hassle, especially with DHS regulations with in-home daycare), so we decided to take it up to the in-laws. After loading that up, I had to go inside and pack our bags to take up to Choctaw...again, Liz had a weekend full of weddings and it is only a few miles away from the in-laws' house. Stayed there Friday night...

Saturday, Liz and I went by a garage sale or two before taking her to the chapel. After I dropped Liz off, I went to pick up Chance, brother in-law, who just got back from a two week trip with a friend. I had to meet Liz after that wedding was over and help her clean up, then we went back to her parents' house. After a little bit, I left back to Norman to help someone move...my absolute favorite thing to do (*sarcasm* haha!). This was the easiest move (for me) because I was only needed to help with one trip...a couch, a queen sized bed, chair, a couple other items that fit in the vehicle). After that, I headed by the house to pick up a few things, a few stores, then I headed back to Choctaw with a stop to pick up some BBQ on the way to take back. We stayed Saturday night out there....

Sunday, we got up and ready for church. After our normal 11:30am service, Liz and I started volunteering to serve in the kids area for the 1pm service. Liz was with the babies and I was with 4 year olds. The mom/daughter combo I helped out told me that I helped them on the best/worst day (depending on whose view it is, haha!) because there were 16 kids (they usually have about 10 they said) and the "not usual" ones weren't exactly sure how to behave. Next week, Liz and I will be working together with 5 year olds (I think it was), which means we will be working in Addy's class. After church, we all went and ate at Sante Fe...then the real fun kicked in. I went up to a truck stop to help Liz's dad, Jody, and her brother, Chance, do some carpentry work. I don't ever mind helping out Jody do that kind of work...it is good experience, but it is definitely hard labor. Honestly, I wish I could go with Jody every Saturday (while Liz works the weddings) and do some work on the side to make some extra money. Anyway, this truck stop was getting a new huge air conditioner installed. Here is what all we did. A new load-baring wall had to be installed, then some "above the ceiling" work. A beam had to be cut, install some 2 x 6's and some ply-wood....basically we made a square opening for the new unit in the ceiling. Also, for the load baring wall that was built, we had to sheet rock that before we left. It wasn't too bad, when all was said and done. I got home about 10pm...I missed out on dinner, but I wasn't too hungry anyway (until about 11 or so while laying in bed). I got home, took a shower, cleaned the kitchen, made the bed, then got in bed. That was pretty much my weekend...good times!

2007-06-28T13:44:00.000-07:00

How Refreshing!

The post below is from a man I used to attend church with in Norman. Due to his job, he moved out to Amarillo. This is really refreshing coming from a Missionary Baptist...who is of my parents age. This is something that I had been emphasizing for a long time. How many of us, that grew up in a traditional church setting, ever heard the "we've never done that before"...since that was always said, the churches would never adapt. As long as the truth is not compromised (truth being the Bible), then I strongly believe that we should do whatever it takes to reach the people of the world. Here is my old MBC friend's, Bro. Ben, thoughts:

In the days of the Apostle Paul many churches met in the homes of believers rather than buildings built for public meetings. Later, great cathedrals began to be built as memorials to Jesus Christ not for the purpose of meeting large public forums. While I’m not against building buildings for people to meet I think we should consider the value of spending our building money on evangelism, outreach, sending missionaries and winning souls to Christ. If we do these things first the need for and the means to build subsequent buildings will come. I think the Lord’s churches and all of God’s people need to get this straight in our hearts and heads.

I want to make two quick points here and then I’ll move on.

First, It is long past time that we Missionary Baptists stop living and ministering in the 60’s, 70’s, and even 80’s. This is 2007. The 21st century. Just 10 short years ago technology moved us from cassette tapes and VHS tapes to CD’s and DVD’s. Today, you hear less and less of people buying CD’s and if they do they’re largely blank and tracks are down loaded from the internet. But most of the time these tracks and even movies are downloaded to an MP3 or i-POD.

We simply are not ministering or witnessing to the same people our parents and mentors once did. Albert Einstein, although I don’t think he realized how profound, said, “The world has problems today that cannot be solved by thinking the way it was thought when we created them.” Now there is one thing that never changes: The Word of God. Period! But the world in which we live needs God’s people to consider how we can effectively evangelize without compromising the truth. And I for one do not believe evangelism happens only inside the churches’ walls.

Second, I draw your attention to a familiar passage. Romans 10:14-15 “How then shall they call on Him in whom they have not believed? And how shall they believe in Him of whom they have not heard? And how shall they hear without a preacher? And how shall they preach, except they be sent? as it is written, How beautiful are the feet of them that preach the gospel of peace, and bring glad tidings of good things!”

If the world will not come to the preacher how shall they hear the gospel? The gospel must be taken to the world (evangelize). Whatever it takes we should be doing. Change is not easy. It sometimes is even uncomfortable, but if we are not faithful evangelizing our own towns, neighborhoods and friends how can we expect God to send us to the four corners of the earth to do it?

2007-06-28T12:29:00.000-07:00

What Are Your Priorities? - Something to Think About

I saw the following message from LifeChurch South OKC's youth pastor, Wade Smith. I think it is so good and so true that I needed to pass along. Check it out:

Vilfredo Pareto was an Italian economist who made an astounding discovery about a hundred years ago. He suggested that a principle is at work that applies to money, people, and time. Some call it the 80/20 Principle. This principle teaches us about handling our priorities. Here it is in a nutshell: When you practice the right priorities, 20% of your effort gets you 80% of your desired results. In other words, twenty percent of our tasks are more fruitful than the other eighty percent. Think about that in relation to your life for a minute. What things in your life do you spend the majority of your time on?

Now a better question: Do those things glorify God? I don’t know about you but I often struggle with getting EVERYTHING done. At the end of the day I often wonder why I don’t feel as productive as I should or wonder why I don’t get as much time with God as I would like. If this principle is true, and I believe it is, then I, like a lot of us must refocus my priorities! I think most of us would agree that God should come first, but if we’re honest, most of our priorities don’t reflect that statement. I want us all to take a long look at the way we spend our time. If God isn’t your first priority then I say it’s time to put first things first!! It will be astonishing just how much things will begin to change in our lives!

2007-06-27T06:09:00.001-07:00

Wordless Wednesday - Unique Men's Bathroom

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2007-06-25T07:45:00.000-07:00

Jonah!

Please check out this series on Jonah. This is a 4 part series, part 4 is next weekend at LifeChurch. This series is a true blessing...Pastor Craig doesn't mind stepping on anyone's toes. Church isn't always a "feel good" experience. We should be convicted and it should be life changing...we should not be just going to church to check it off our checklist of things to do.

Part 1 - The Jonah In Us

Part 2 - Jonah's Prayer

Part 3 - Jonah Obeys

2007-06-24T19:05:00.000-07:00

Power of Prayer - Something to Think About

There is this small town church. A bar opened up a mile down the road. The pastor and members of the church were so upset, they didn't want a bar to open in their town...yet alone right down the road. They had special prayer meetings and prayed that the bar be removed.

One night, lightning struck the bar and it burned down to the ground. The bar owner sued the pastor and the church. The pastor said that we are not responsible, it was just harmless prayers...just words. The bar owner said their prayers were the reason why lightning hit the bar.

The judge said, "Wait a minute here! So we have a bar owner who believes in the power of prayer and a pastor that does not."

2007-06-24T18:42:00.000-07:00

Weekend Reflection

Well, we had a pretty uneventful weekend. I didn't have to do much work this weekend, which is good and bad. The good reasons are obvious, the bad one's are they are still needing to be done.

Friday night, Addy had her final swim lesson for level 1. Ann got to come down for that, then after that was over she took Addy and me to her house. We would only have one car in Choctaw that way, since Liz was already at the chapel. We spent the night up there on Friday night with Liz having two more weddings on Saturday.

Saturday, we got up and Liz went to the chapel. I pretty much sat around the house before Addy and myself went to help Liz clean candles and pick up the flower petals. After we were finished there, we went to one of our favorite restaurants, Golden Palace, in Midwest City. After eating lunch, we went by the mall there....wow, that mall is practically closed (half the stores are empty). I grew up in Midwest City before moving to Norman when I was 20. After the mall, we went by Sally's Beauty Supply to pickup some nail polish for Liz. She had been wearing boots and after all that walking, her feet were really hurting. Luckily, she had some sandals in the trunk of the car, but her nails needed to be done. By this time, it was about time for her to be back at the chapel for the next wedding...so I dropped her off and went back by Ann's house. I was only there for a little while....I had to get mine and Liz's stuff together, but Addy was spending Saturday night as well. After loading the car, I went by the gas station, picked Liz up and headed home for the night.

Sunday...wow, what a great message this morning. I am so glad that I started attending LifeChurch...it has been such a blessing. I will definitely need to post the Jonah series on here soon, which is what we are currently in. After church was over, we had lunch at Red Robin in Norman...then headed home. I got home and was planning on working this afternoon. I started mowing before the rain moved in...it never fails here lately. Jody (father-in-law) showed up to help me with the flat tire on the SUV...he had a tire flat repair kit (the tire had a screw in it). After that, I came in and showered, watched a movie, then took about a hour long nap with Liz. Jody had to come back down here (with us telling him not to repeatedly) because he was supposed to bring Liz's black book which has her driver's license, insurance card, money, etc. He showed up while Liz was at the grocery store, he only stayed about 5 minutes...I really didn't want him to drive down here for that, it is ridiculous. I am so ready for bed...I am still waiting on Liz to get here so I can carry in the groceries. That is pretty much it...I am just hanging out with Addy until she gets here. I hope everyone had a great weekend...unfortunately, it is time for another Monday....yay!

2007-06-23T16:38:00.000-07:00

Homeschooling Is Here To Stay!

I have a good friend of mine who agrees to disagree with me in regards to homeschooling. I have nothing totally against public schools. I went to public school and loved it. I (and my wife) feel a higher calling...we have been called to homeschool. I ask, if I am doing what God has called my family to do...how is that wrong? We are in agreement to God, therefore I don't need to answer to any person in this world. Here is even some scripture that goes along with my belief on homeschooling...

God gave you children as a steward and gave you the authority over them:

Psalms 127:3-5 Lo, children are an heritage of the LORD: and the fruit of the womb is his reward. As arrows are in the hand of a mighty man; so are children of the youth. Happy is the man that hath his quiver full of them: they shall not be ashamed, but they shall speak with the enemies in the gate.

Genesis 33:5 And he lifted up his eyes, and saw the women and the children; and said, Who are those with thee? And he said, The children which God hath graciously given thy servant.

Genesis 48:8-9 And Israel beheld Joseph's sons, and said, Who are these? And Joseph said unto his father, They are my sons, whom God hath given me in this place. And he said, Bring them, I pray thee, unto me, and I will bless them.

Isaiah 8:18 Behold, I and the children whom the LORD hath given me are for signs and for wonders in Israel from the LORD of hosts, which dwelleth in mount Zion.

Hebrews 2:13 And again, I will put my trust in him. And again, Behold I and the children which God hath given me.

On rendering to GOD'S what is GOD'S:

Matthew 22:21 They say unto him, Caesar's. Then saith he unto them, Render therefore unto Caesar the things which are Caesar's; and unto God the things that are God's.
(People tend to ignore the latter portion of the verse. Our children are not Caesar's! Children belong to God!)

Ezekiel 16:20-21 Moreover thou hast taken thy sons and thy daughters, whom thou hast borne unto me, and these hast thou sacrificed unto them to be devoured. Is this of thy whoredoms a small matter, That thou hast slain my children, and delivered them to cause them to pass through the fire for them?

God's commandments to us regarding our stewardship of the children He has given us include:

Ephesians 6:4 And, ye fathers, provoke not your children to wrath: but bring them up in the nurture and admonition of the Lord.

Deuteronomy 6:6-9 And these words, which I command thee this day, shall be in thine heart: And thou shalt teach them diligently unto thy children, and shalt talk of them when thou sittest in thine house, and when thou walkest by the way, and when thou liest down, and when thou risest up. And thou shalt bind them for a sign upon thine hand, and they shall be as frontlets between thine eyes. And thou shalt write them upon the posts of thy house, and on thy gates.

Proverbs 23:7 For as he thinketh in his heart, so is he: Eat and drink, saith he to thee; but his heart is not with thee.

2 Corinthians 10:5 Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ;

How someone thinks in their heart is what makes them. How do children learn to think of the world, of God and His creation, in school?

Isaiah 54:13 And all thy children shall be taught of the LORD; and great shall be the peace of thy children.

Jeremiah 10:2 Thus saith the LORD, Learn not the way of the heathen, and be not dismayed at the signs of heaven; for the heathen are dismayed at them.

Matthew 22:37 Jesus said unto him, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind.

Again, a child's mind is trained in school.

Romans 12:2 And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.

Proverbs 22:6 Train up a child in the way he should go: and when he is old, he will not depart from it.

Does a child receive this kind of training in public school?

Proverbs 13:20 He that walketh with wise men shall be wise: but a companion of fools shall be destroyed.

Does a child "walk with wise men" in public school?

1 Corinthians 15:33 Be not deceived: evil communications corrupt good manners.
That's communications as in "community."

Is it a good idea to put children in that situation?

James 3:13-18 Who is a wise man and endued with knowledge among you? let him shew out of a good conversation his works with meekness of wisdom. But if ye have bitter envying and strife in your hearts, glory not, and lie not against the truth. This wisdom descendeth not from above, but is earthly, sensual, devilish. For where envying and strife is, there is confusion and every evil work. But the wisdom that is from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, and easy to be intreated, full of mercy and good fruits, without partiality, and without hypocrisy. And the fruit of righteousness is sown in peace of them that make peace.

Matthew 18:6 But whoso shall offend one of these little ones which believe in me, it were better for him that a millstone were hanged about his neck, and that he were drowned in the depth of the sea.

Psalms 119:97-104 O how love I thy law! It is my meditation all the day. Thou through thy commandments hast made me wiser than mine enemies: for they are ever with me. I have more understanding than all my teachers: for thy testimonies are my meditation. I understand more than the ancients, because I keep thy precepts. I have refrained my feet from every evil way, that I might keep thy word. I have not departed from thy judgments: for thou hast taught me. How sweet are thy words unto my taste! yea, sweeter than honey to my mouth! Through thy precepts I get understanding: therefore I hate every false way.

2007-06-20T12:36:00.000-07:00

A Little Marriage Humor...

A man and his ever-nagging wife went on vacation to Jerusalem. While they were there, the wife passed away.

The undertaker told the husband, "You can have her shipped home for $5,000, or you can bury her here, in the Holy Land, for $150."

The man thought about it and told him he would just have her shipped home.The undertaker asked, "Why would you spend $5,000 to ship your wife home, when it would be wonderful to be buried here and you would spend only $150?"

The man replied, "Long ago a man died here, was buried here, and three days later he rose from the dead. I just can't take that chance."

2007-06-19T21:14:00.000-07:00

Wordless Wednesday - Love Thy Neighbor

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2007-06-18T06:21:00.000-07:00

Weekend Reflection

This was a pretty laid back weekend, for a change...well, as far as working. Most of that is due to the fact that Liz was so sick. Friday night, I drove her to the chapel because she wasn't feeling well. I stayed at her parents' house until she was finished with the wedding...then came to "help" with the candles. She had gotten so much worse during the wedding, that I had to do all the candles/cleanup while she laid on a bench literally shaking. After that, we headed to her parents to stay the night (which ended up being both nights).

Saturday, she woke up still feeling really bad. She insisted on going to work at the weddings, so I took her. I got there in time to help clean up again, trying to get her back to her parents to rest. We didn't do the candles because the evening wedding was supposed to be outside. Well, about 5:30 (Liz is suppposed to be there about 6) I noticed it was pouring rain outside...so I woke Liz up so we could go do candles. We just knew for sure that they would move the wedding inside with the rain. We got to the chapel and flew through the candles...not until we were finished had the rain cleared out and they decided to keep it outside. After the evening wedding, I just had to pick Liz up...with the wedding outside, we didn't have to cleanup the chapel. We went back to the in-laws for another night...finally we checked Liz's temperature...it was like 102.4 or something. We loaded her up with more medicine.

Sunday, Liz was still sick....she didn't get out of bed until around 3:30 in the afternoon. I just lounged around at her parents watching tv. We finally left around 5 or 5:30. While we were there, my mother-in-law (Ann) made me a header. She did such a good job...I love it! I might want to re-do my entire layout...just not sure what I want done. Addy spent the entire weekend with John...he dropped her off at the house late Sunday evening. Then it was pretty much off to bed....except we didn't get much sleep (Liz and myself). I got probably 3-4 hours....Liz maybe got a hour.

That was pretty much our weekend. Since I was up at the in-laws, I didn't get anything done around the house...just lounged around, helping my wife once in awhile. Awesome Fathers Day, I know...hey, it beats working the entire weekend!! Though, that means more will be waiting for me when I get to it.

2007-06-14T18:26:00.000-07:00

Another 4 Letter Word - Soda!

Liz and I have been doing many different things in our lives to have a simpler and healthier lifestyle. We are making changes all across the board to be happier and more focused. From reducing the amount of daycare kids (or re-arranging days they are here), no television in the living room (we did this right before Christmas and we're good), and we are working towards having meals prepared at home....the list goes on. We were forwarded an email regarding soda and how bad it really is for kids AND adults. I don't have the article from the forwarded email yet...but it got me looking. Below, I found the TRUTH regarding SODA! We aren't going to immediately stop right this second (we just bought two 24-packs), but since we are addicted...we are going to slowly reduce the amount we drink in a day. I had already done so (I used to have about 6 in a day) by reducing down to 3-4. My next goal is to have 2 per day this next week...then, just 1 per day until I run out. Here is the article:

Soda. It's become the four-letter word of beverages. Of all the drinks on the market, soda probably has the worst reputation. Science and medical research point their collective finger at soda, and blame it for everything from diabetes to tooth decay, hyperactivity to childhood obesity. But is soda really that bad for you? When asked if soda is inherently unhealthy for people, board certified nutritionist and author Jonny Bowden, PhD, CNS, said, “Yes. Simple, unequivocal answer, yes. Yup. Affirmative. Absolutely.” What's so unhealthy about many Americans' favorite beverage?

To get to the truth, let's start with the ingredients. The average cola contains carbonated water, caramel color, natural flavors, caffeine, phosphoric acid and high fructose corn syrup. Carbonated water is plain water infused with carbon dioxide, which creates the bubbles. Caramel color is a natural additive that tints food products, providing the familiar color consumers expect to see. Natural flavors are often of the citrus variety and added for taste. All of these are simple, harmless ingredients. Next is caffeine, a diuretic and stimulant known to be addictive.

What's left on the list of ingredients is what solidifies soda's bad name: sugar. Phosphoric acid is a chemical that adds a tangy or sour flavor by breaking down starches into sugar. According to Bowden, we should consume as little sugar as possible, especially refined sugar. “Zero would be a bull's-eye but is pretty much an unobtainable goal,” says Bowden. Why is it unobtainable? Because almost every product on supermarket shelves contains the final ingredient on our soda list: high fructose corn syrup. “It's included because it is a way cheaper form of sweetener than anything else,” says Bowden. “It is also one of the single most horrific ingredients in the food supply.” Adding high fructose corn syrup to foods provides little nutrition and lots of calories.

If this is the case, then what about diet soda: Does it help or hinder weight loss? “There's no hard-core scientific evidence that it hinders,” says Bowden.“But there is a ton of anecdotal information and intelligent observation that leads one to think that might be so. New research shows that noncaloric food and beverages deregulate our innate ability to judge caloric intake. Secondly, there's the psychological part: Many people subconsciously think they're taking in less calories by drinking these crappy drinks and then subconsciously allow themselves more food. Third, there is some suspicion among nutritional scientists that sweet tastes — through a Pavlovian conditioning method — might signal insulin to release even though there are no actual calories or sugar. This is a theory I think has a lot of merit.”Taking all of this into consideration, soda just doesn't add up to be a beneficial drink. Even the label on a can states that it is “not a significant source of fiber, vitamin A, vitamin C, calcium and iron.”

Now that you have the facts and you're staring at a month's supply of soda you just bought, don't panic. Your purchase need not go to waste. According to numerous household cleaning Websites, soda can clean your toilet, eliminate rust from a car bumper and remove grease from clothing.

2007-06-12T19:02:00.001-07:00

Wordless Wednesday - Quick Search

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2007-06-11T10:50:00.000-07:00

Homeschooling Objections and Responses:

Objection - This is a new idea. How do you know it will work?
Answer - Home schooling is not a new idea. It is how education was done in Biblical times. It is how many of the founding fathers of the United States were educated. Abraham Lincoln and Thomas Edison were home schooled. So we know it will work because it has been working for centuries. Government schools are the new idea. It is an experiment that is not proving to be very successful.

Objection - Your child won't be able to participate in high school athletics.
Answer - That may or may not be true, depending on the area where one lives (not the case in in Norman, OK and surrounding metro area). However, even if it is true, making right decisions often involves sacrifice. I would rather see my child get a quality education in a loving Christian atmosphere than have him play football. Additionally, what percentage of students really get to play high school sports? Only the best make the team. And only the best of those actually get to play. But there are many ways (little league, recreation leagues, etc.) to participate in sports without being on a high school team.

Objection - The shared government school experience is essential to our nation.
Answer - The nation was doing just fine before the "government school experience" began. Government schools did not start becoming common until well after the founding of the United States.

Objection - What if they *want* to go to government school?
Answer - Suppose children *want* to do cocaine? Does that mean they should be permitted to do so? Children are not allowed to make all of their own decisions for the simple reason that they are not mature enough to do so. They are often unable to assess all of the necessary information to make the right choices. That's what parents are for. It is their responsibility to make those decisions for their children.

Objection - Government schools were good enough for us, so they should be good enough for our children (implied here was also, "They should be good enough for your children, too!").
Answer - Outhouses were good enough for earlier generations of my family but that doesn't mean I should get rid of my indoor plumbing. Also, the people teaching, the children going to school and the curricula in use are not the same as they used to be. Besides, I don't want what's "good enough" for my child. I want what is best for him.

Objection - They won't get the necessary social skills in a homeschool environment that they would get in the public school system.
Answer - You're right, they'll get better social skills! Only in the public school system, are you locked down to strictly spending your time with people your age. Once you are out of school, you have to deal with people from old to young. Also, there are many co-ops, church/christian groups, homeschooler groups out there...not to mention extra-curricular activities (dance, choirs, etc) for homeschoolers where they will interact with other kids. Also, if you are involved in a local church...they will be around kids about their age during the kids classes.

I will leave you with this thought. If God has called you or someone else to homeschool and "raise up their child", then who can judge them/you for that? I would rather my kids be raised/taught by us with christian background/beliefs, then what the world might/would put into their mind. We will raise our kids with values, morals, and God...which will give them a firm foundation to stand upon for when they go out into the world. "As for me and my house, we will serve the Lord"!

2007-06-11T10:36:00.000-07:00

Homeschoolopoly!

Growing up, I loved to play Monopoly with the family....or just whoever would play. As a teenager, I got Sooneropoly (I have no idea where it is now, though) and absolutely loved it! I am amazed at how many different versions of the game are out there...sports, animals, etc.

Now, they have a Homeschool Edition...and it appears to be Christian-based, too!

http://www.homeschoolopoly.com/gamepix.htm

2007-06-11T10:30:00.000-07:00

Gin In School???....Another Reason To Homeschool

School Served Gin to 6th Graders

I saw this headline and just had to laugh. Of course, I wouldn't be laughing if it were my kid.

School defends serving gin to students

State education officials said they’ll investigate a northeast Ohio charter school that served gin to sixth graders at a graduation ceremony.

Four students were given a teaspoon of gin mixed with water on Tuesday in a ceremony modeled on a Ghanian rite of passage event, said Kwa David Whitaker, an official with the Phoenix Village Academy. The school’s curriculum emphasizes African history and culture, and the ritual was intended to teach truthfulness, said Whitaker, who oversaw the ceremony.

The students were blindfolded, giving them the uncertain feeling that goes with moving from one stage of life to another, he said. Each student was given a teaspoon of water and a teaspoon of the gin-water mix, and then asked to identify which contained water. The students recognized that the gin wasn’t water and spit it out before swallowing, Whitaker said. The point is to teach the children to be honest, he said.

I just love the part were the students were blindfolded. I think this lesson is teaching the students something, but I don't think it is "honesty." It sounds more like something you would do at a college frat party.

2007-06-10T19:36:00.001-07:00

I Can't Believe It Has Been A Year!!

Well, my wife and I are celebrating our 1 year anniversary! Tomorrow is actually the day, but we have kinda been celebrating all weekend. We stayed out at the in-laws the last couple nights because Liz had three weddings (one Friday, two Saturday).

Saturday, I dropped her off at the chapel...then took the car to get the oil changed and to the car wash (clean and vacuum), then back to the chapel to help her clean candles. After that, we went to Shawnee...we ate lunch at the Delta Cafe, then headed over to Old Navy to check out some clothes. Liz has been running short on "nice" clothes for work at the chapel...so I let her pick out whatever she wanted. I also picked out a couple t-shirts and dress shirt...Liz felt that I needed these "cute" sandals, so she got me those, too. She also got a nice dress from there for our date tonight...though it wasn't for that alone.

Tonight, we went out for the evening. Addy spent the evening with her daddy. We went by a jewelry store, where Liz bought a couple items....I just couldn't find anything that brought out the color of my eyes, that also went along with my outfit. haha! After that, we went to eat at Musashi's up in the city. The experience was really cool....the food was pretty good, too. We headed back for Norman, with a stop at the sno-cone stand and video store before heading to the house.

That was pretty much it about the evening. Now, enough about that...I really want to talk about my wife. I have to thank her for the best year of my life. She is my everything! If there is anything possible that I can do for her...I don't hesitate! She will be the first to admit that she is extremely spoiled rotten!! I can go on and on all day long about how much she means to me! I will end this post saying this last thing...I AM THE LUCKIEST MAN IN THE WORLD!!!

2007-06-08T10:12:00.000-07:00

Something To Think About - Life's Baggage

Check out this little video clip (it is less than 3 minutes long) from our Pastor Craig about baggage...it is so true! As we go through life, everything we face adds more baggage to carry...at some point, we need to realize that we aren't strong enough to do it on our own. We need to give it all to God, who is able and willing!

2007-06-08T07:04:00.000-07:00

Appetizer

What do you consider to be the ultimate snack food?
I'm not a huge snack food person. I don't snack much at all. My wife makes these tortilla roll-ups that I love (and haven't had in a long time...hint, hint). I also love nachos and lil smokies.

Soup

On a scale of 1 to 10 (with 10 as highest), about how popular is your last name?

Maybe a 4. I have seen my last name out there, more than I thought I would. There was a professional baseball player, a famous music producer, and I even see it every now and then while out. Example: Last weekend, Liz and I were out garage sale shopping. We turned down a street, and the first house on mailbox had "SHIPLEY" on it...I thought it was cool.

Salad

Who is your all-time favorite sitcom character, and why?
Wow, now that is a tough one! I have no idea. It may be Raymond's dad, from Everybody Loves Raymond...just the way he acts (especially towards his wife) is funny. He reminds me of my dad...my dad jokes around like that with my mom, though he really does love her.

Main Course

Do you shop online? If so, name some sites you like to browse for goodies.

I used to before I got married...now, I just don't want to spend money because there are better things that it needs to go for (bills, food, kids, etc). When I did shop online...my favorite was Old Navy. I would also shop a little online with EA Sports (video games), Best Buy, and ebay.

Dessert

Fill in the blank: I think ___________ should be ___________.

I think FRIDAYS should be PART OF THE WEEKEND. How cool would that be?? I would love to have a 3-day weekend every single week. Talk about boosting your workers motivation.

Go here to see other Friday's Feast participants. If you're participating, be sure to leave me a comment so I pop over to your place and indulge a bit!