A Typical Friday Night

flickr: Friday Photo Group

Family Time

Shortly after my oldest son was born, my wife Dana, took voluntary layoff from the company where she worked to be a stay-at-home-mom. For the next 16 years, she worked at home--being a stay-at-home-mom IS WORK! I've seen it, and let me tell you, it ain't sitting around the house, watching soap operas and eating bon-bons all day.

During that period, we got into the routine of eating dinner (or supper depending on what you call the evening meal in your neck of the woods) together as a family. We still do. Dana began teaching at a private school in our town after our youngest son started junior high, but to this day, we still eat our evening meal together. Me, Dana AND the two boys (the oldest is now 20) still sit down to a home-cooked meal most every evening except Wednesdays; that's church night and there's really no time to cook and clean up and still make it to church. That night, it's every man--or woman--for themselves. But, every other evening, including weekends, we eat together.

I look forward to that time. We catch up on each other's day, rehash the news, share funny stories or jokes, etc. We have some serious discussions from time to time as well. It's nice having the whole family together at the end of the day. I get the feeling that lots of families don't have or make the time to eat dinner together and that's too bad. They're missing out.

Almost Here

I leave for the Shepherds' Conference in a little over a week. Looking forward to a great time of preaching, fellowship and refreshing...also, lots of BOOKS!

2008 speakers (l to r): John MacArthur, Albert Mohler, Steven Lawson, Rick Holland, Phil Johnson, Tom Pennington.

Change

"Does anyone actually believe Kennedy would back a candidate who had any real intention to change how things are done?" (Quote by The Underminer)

Thank You for This Day

"Thank you for this day." That's how I begin my morning prayer--every day. Some days, I'm in my truck; some days I'm at my desk or at the kitchen table, but I always begin the same way. I need to remind myself each and every day that I am totally depending on God for everything...EVERYTHING in my life.

God graciously allowed me to get a night's rest and then wake up to begin another day. A new day...unspoiled by work's frustrations, cutting words, angry thoughts, and failed expectations. A new day to revel in the crispness of morning air; a new day to wake up EARLY and enjoy the quiet; a new day to stop and ponder: "What does THIS day hold?"

Another day to live my life, trusting in God to keep me safe, to help me speak kindly to my family and co-workers, to be the very best husband, dad, and employee I can be. Another day filled with opportunities to tell others about His goodness. Another day to be encouraged by words like:

...but he who trusts in the Lord, lovingkindness shall surround him. Be glad in the Lord and rejoice, you righteous ones; And shout for joy, all you who are upright in heart. (Psalm 32:10-11)

Another day to know that even when I fall, He is there to pick me up, to strengthen and encourage me. Another day to bask in His forgiveness, to know that He knows my heart...and still loves me. And at the end of the day, to be able to go home to my family, seeing them all safe.

Thank You for my wife, our sons, our jobs, our friends, our church, the food on our table, our warm beds...and rest.

Thank You for this day.

Why God? Why?!

Why did I marry her? Why didn't I just put a loaded gun in my mouth? Why God, Why?"

Valentines Day

Friday Photo

I realize I'm a day late with the "Friday Photo", but I couldn't resist posting this one. These are the flowers I sent my wife for Valentines Day.

flickr: Friday Photo Group

Hands On

In an interview on the Today Show this morning, former President Clinton was asked what his role would be in the White House should his wife become President. "I won't be on the Cabinet, but I will be hands on."

He didn't mention "who" his hands would be on.

Hillary Taketh Away

Just in case you missed this one:

Democrat Hillary Rodham Clinton said Sunday she might be willing to garnish the wages of workers who refuse to buy health insurance to achieve coverage for all Americans. The New York senator has criticized presidential rival Barack Obama for pushing a health plan that would not require universal coverage. Clinton has not always specified the enforcement measures she would embrace, but when pressed on ABC's "This Week," she said: "I think there are a number of mechanisms" that are possible, including "going after people's wages, automatic enrollment (Source)

Is God Really That Dumb?

I've never fully understood the whole "Mardi Gras" thing. What I've been able to put together:

• Mardi Gras is kinda the "last hurray" before Lent.
• "Fat Tuesday" is the day before Ash Wednesday, the beginning of Lent.
• Lent runs from Ash Wednesday to Easter (40 days) and is a time of refraining or fasting from a bad habit or vice. Some people I know give up drinking or smoking or cursing during Lent.
• Lent is pretty much a Catholic thing, but lots of people that aren't Catholics like to participate...well, they like to participate in the Mardi Gras part, but not so much the Lent part.
• Mardi Gras apparently is Latin for "pull up your shirt." This obviously applies only to women.
• Mardi Gras is really big in New Orleans. Probably because there seems to be a lot of women that enjoy pulling up their shirts. Mardi Gras is all about beads, drinking, pulling up your shirt, drinking, and more beads. Did I mention pulling up your shirt? (You have to get all of this out of your system because the next day is the start of Lent.)
• After Lent is over, you can go back to drinking, smoking, and/or cursing.
• The only time God pays attention is during Lent, so He thinks everyone acts nice all the time...like they do for Lent. How you act/live the other 325 days of the year is irrelevant. God's not watching...and He apparently falls for that Lent thing every year.

Friday Photos

It's been a while since I posted Friday Photos. To be honest, I haven't taken that many pics since the ice storm a couple of months ago. Anyway, the bird pic was shot through our patio door--Dana made a "bird feeder" from a pine cone. The bird apparently thought it was delicious. The second pic was taken this week during a snow storm that was supposed to dump 6 to 8 inches on us...we got 1.5 inches. It was still pretty.

 
 

flickr: Friday Photo Group

Another Sleaze Bag Works the System

This is James Harvey Callahan. He is a cold-blooded murderer.

Callahan was sentenced to death for the 1982 murder of Jacksonville State University student Rebecca Suzanne Howell, who was abducted from a coin laundry in Jacksonville and raped before being strangled and dumped in a creek. He has been on death row longer than his victim lived on this earth. Now that's justice, eh?

The sleaze-bag got a stay of execution from the Supreme Court today...more than Rebecca Howell got. The bleeding hearts will claim victory and shout for joy, meanwhile Suzanne Howell's family will spend another year without her...courtesy of James Harvey Callahan. I bet he had a bad childhood...that makes it all better.

Age Appropriate Filth

I've never seen a complete episode of the The Simpsons or Family Guy. I've seen enough commercials or snippets as I cruise past the channels to know pretty much what the premise of these shows are: rude, sometimes blasphemous (yeah, Todd, I said it), profane, disrespectful, etc. What intrigues me is that many self-proclaimed Christians watch these cartoons, as well as other television programming and movies with very little thought for their content.

"It's just a cartoon" or "hey, I don't talk like that, I just watch it" or "at least it's not as bad as some other shows; there's a lot worse stuff out there." These are just some of the excuses I've heard from folks that (a) claim the name of Christ AND (b) would never dream of letting their children watch the same fare...which brings me to my point.

Why do Christians --forget about the pagans; they're acting according to what they are--believe there's some kind of "line" where a little profanity or vulgarity is OK...as long as you're an adult?! I have relatives that are diligent to a "t" when it comes to monitoring their teen and pre-teen's television programs/movies, but after the kids are in bed or at least out of the room, they see nothing wrong with watching something that is FILLED with verbal or visual smut.

They reason that, as long as they don't actually use the "F" word (for example) in everyday conversation, there's nothing wrong with plunking down their hard-earned cash (or sitting in the "privacy" of their own home ¹) to listen to someone else do it. And it's not just profanity I'm talking about. Getting back on The Simpsons, why would any Christian think it's funny to hear Bart Simpson pray- "We paid for this ourselves, so thanks for nothing"? What's funny or cute about that? I thought as Christians we believed that ALL things have their beginning with God, including the food on our tables!

If it's inappropriate for children, it's more than likely not appropriate for adults either. Paul wrote:

Finally, brethren, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is of good repute, if there is any excellence and if anything worthy of praise, dwell on these things. -- Philippians 4:8 (NASB)

If you don't agree, that's fine--you're entitled to your opinion. But...I don't want to hear about how you think I'm a prude or have my head in the sand or "you're just being ridiculous. I wouldn't let my 3-year-old watch The Simpsons, but my son is 17 years old and he knows the difference between right and wrong." Christians need to quit being gutless wonders that just aren't willing to seperate themselves from the world.

I know an individual that tells the story of when they were in junior high and her father caught her and her sister watching a questionable TV program. "There's only a little bit of cussing in it" was their defense. Later in the day, when they were called to the dining room for supper, they both noticed a small clump of dog manure RIGHT IN THE MIDDLE OF THEIR SPAGHETTI! "I'm not eating that!," they exclaimed. "Why not," their dad responded, "there's only a little bit of manure in it..."

¹ Maybe they should re-read Psalm 139:1-4 "O LORD, You have searched me and known me. You know when I sit down and when I rise up; You understand my thought from afar. You scrutinize my path and my lying down, And are intimately acquainted with all my ways. Even before there is a word on my tongue, Behold, O LORD, You know it all."

Weekend Thoughts

Fortune does not change men, it unmasks them
-Suzanne Curchod Necker (1739-1794)

You're Gonna Need a Bigger Barn
The above quote appeared on my Google Home page today and it made me think of some things that are going on around the office. I mentioned a while back that our company is for sale. The three principles have been around since the early 70's and they are ready to retire. They offered the company to the current shareholders (we are employee owned), but the price was simply more than any of us can/are willing to afford.

So, the process has begun to find a buyer. In the process, figures have been thrown around that frankly are almost unbelieveable. I don't want to devulge too much here, but suffice it to say, there are some people that will pretty much be set for life if this sale goes through...which brings me back to the Necker quote. It's very interesting to watch people that suddenly acquire or THINK they're going to acquire a large sum of money. Even more interesting are the reactions/responses from those that own very little or no stock at all. They're not nearly as excited to sell as the other group. Lots of things are being said that will probably be regretted later. Go figure.

The whole thing reminds me of Jesus' parable in Luke 12:18ff--the rich man and his barns.

You Asked
I post the contents of this blog on another blogging site--I actually started blogging there first and ended up "meeting" some interesting people, so I've continued to maintain both. I'm fascinated by the conversations/relationships that occur in the blogoshere. Several times, visitors to my blog have asked me to pray about situations in their lives. I've never met these people face to face, but we share a common bond in our faith, etc. so I pray. Some have asked what I believe about certain topics and I have done the same. What is baffling is when someone comes to my blog, asks me a question, then gets angry when my answer doesn't agree with what they think? They came to my "house" and THEY ASKED--so I told them what I thought. Now they're mad at me?!

The Bible Says...
Another blog I read was discussing how some Bible verses get taken out of context to prove a point. I've also noticed a similar situation, you know when you question someone's motives, actions, etc. and they shoot back with: "Let him without sin cast the first stone" or "Judge not lest you be judged!" They think they've really come up with a zinger and I won't have a comeback. I usually ask them: "Do you know where those verses are found, what the circumstances where surrounding those statements, or even who said them?" They usually don't.

Church

Now this is what church oughta look like!
 

Redneck Rockwell / Man Rules

I felt the need to "lighten" things up a bit. It's Monday.
 
Redneck Rockwell
I thought the KFC was a nice touch!

Man Rules
Copied--with some minor modifications by me.

1. Men are NOT mind readers.
2. Learn to work the toilet seat. You're a big girl. If it's up, put it down. We need it up, you need it down. You don't hear us complaining about you leaving it down.
3. Crying is blackmail.
4. Ask for what you want. Let us be clear on this one: Subtle hints do not work! Strong hints do not work! Obvious hints do not work! Just say it!
5. Yes and No are perfectly acceptable answers to almost every question.
6. Come to us with a problem only if you want help solving it. That's what we do. Sympathy is what your girlfriends are for.
7. Anything we said 6 months ago is inadmissible in an argument...In fact, all comments become Null and void after 7 Days.
8. If you think you're fat, you probably are. Don't ask us.
9. If something we said can be interpreted two ways and one of the ways makes you sad or angry, we meant the other one
10. You can either ask us to do something or tell us how you want it done. Not both. If you already know best how to do it, just do it yourself.
11. Whenever possible, Please say whatever you have to say during commercials...
12. Christopher Columbus did NOT need directions and neither do we.
13. ALL men see in only 16 colors, like Windows default settings. Peach, for example, is a fruit, not A color. Pumpkin is also a fruit. We have no idea what mauve is.
14. If it itches, it will be scratched. We do that.
15. If we ask what is wrong and you say "nothing," We will act like nothing's wrong. We know you are lying, but it is just not worth the hassle.
16. If you ask a question you don't want an answer to, Expect an answer you don't want to hear.
17. When we have to go somewhere, absolutely anything you wear is fine... Really .
18. Don't ask us what we're thinking about unless you are prepared to discuss such topics as baseball, woodworking, or computers.
19. You have enough clothes.
20. You have too many shoes.
21. I am in shape. Round IS a shape!
22. Thank you for reading this. Yes, I know, I have to sleep on the couch tonight.

Liars, Tigers and Bad Mothers, Oh My!

Liars and Tigers
So the truth is finally coming out about the tiger attack on Christmas day at San Fransico's Zoo. According to recent news reports, Paul Dhaliwal, 19, (photo at right) admitted that he, his brother Kulbir, 23, and their friend Carlos Sousa, 17, who died in the tragedy, had shouted and waved at the tiger, named Tatiana, from the edge of its enclosure at San Francisco zoo. Moments later, the tiger made its way out of its enclosure and attacked the three young men. "As a result of this investigation, (police believe) that the tiger may have been taunted/agitated by its eventual victims," according to [Police] Inspector Valerie Matthews" (Source)

According to the police investigation, the three young "men" were also hooched up on vodka and marijuana. All three had traces of marijuana in their systems; Dhaliwal had a blood alcohol level twice that allowed by law. When the incident first occured, the surviving brothers both vehemently denied any of the three had done anything to agitate the animal. Their attorney, Mark Geragos, has repeatedly said they did not taunt the tiger. Carlos Sousa's parents even appeared on national TV the day after the attack denying any wrongdoing by the boys. Mr. Sousa stated it was "something you never expect to happen." Really? I hate to sound cold-hearted here, but what in the world did those three THINK would happen?! I've got news for you, and I'm just guessing here, but getting liquored and doped up and then harrassing an animal that outweighs you by nearly three times...that's not a good idea. The tiger is gonna get mad! And from what I've read, they don't negotiate.

What's even more amazing to me is the willingness of the brothers to lie about the situation, knowing that the story would go public. And what about Carlos Sousa's parents? They believed--for a while--their son was attacked for no reason. Why? Because Paul and Kulbir Dhaliwal are LIARS.

Bad Mothers
Priscilla Ceballos said she didn't intend to decieve anyone when she helped her 6-year-old daughter write an winning essay that earned her tickets to a Hannah Montana concert. Ceballos and her daughter submitted the winning essay in a contest sponsored by Club Libby Lu which began: "My daddy died this year in Iraq." The Garland, Texas mother later admitted to store officials that the essay and the military information she provided about her daughter's father were untrue. (Comment: I don't recall the girl's father actually being mentioned or seen during the entire charade.)

Club Libby Lu later withdrew the prize and awarded the tickets to another unnamed contestant.

"I meant no disrespect," Ceballos said on the "Today" show. "I just made a bad decision which I sincerely regret." To which I say: BUFFALO BAGELS! This is a bad mom; a bad mom that is also a liar. She would have taken the tickets and never said a word had the store not asked the right question! She's also a delusional liar--to HERSELF. Does she really think those painted on eyebrows LOOK REAL??!!

Just another handful of people in America that think the rules don't apply to them...especially when it comes to honesty.

•The Rules Don't Apply
•The Rules Don't Apply (Again)

Justice

In light of a recent post and subsequent conversations, it's funny to me how people that are against the death penalty suddenly change their tune when someone they love becomes a murder victim. I guess their family deserves more justice than yours or mine.

Work, Creation and A Corrupt World

Work
I've done very poorly this year so far in regard to posting here and keeping up with my photography "hobby". We're looking a some major changes at work this year which will--already has--effected by schedule. I have a couple of programming projects that I've been told (basically): "you will get these done." OK, then. My paycheck depends on it, probably better get on that. Actually, I'm looking forward to the challenge. I've had some changes in responsibilities at work over the past couple of years which have prevented me from programming as much as I'd like, so this will actually be a welcomed change. Plus, I think I work better unders pressure--we'll see.

Creation
We've been studying the book of Genesis in Sunday School. I spent the first four weeks introducing the book and then detailing the six days of creation. In case it's not obvious, I believe in a literal, 24-hour, six days of creation. I believe in a young earth. I believe God created all that was going to be created in those six days. I don't believe we evolved from some "big bang" or crawled out of some slime billions of years ago. I like John MacArthur's take on evolution:

Someone once estimated that the number of random genetic factors involved in the evolution of a tapeworm from an amoeba would be comparable to placing a monkey in a room with a typewriter and allowing him to strike the keys at random until he accidentally produced a perfectly spelled and perfectly punctuated manuscript of Hamlet's soliloquy.

The amazing thing to me is, people think evolution is more logical than creation! I takes WAY MORE faith for me to believe that I can leave a pile of metal, plastic, and rubber in a parking lot and over a period of billions of years...it will become a 1967 Buick!!! (that's essettially what evolutionists would have us believe).

Corrupt World
In our study of Genesis today, we looked at the life of Noah (Gen 6-9). Several things stood out to me:

• Genesis 6:5 Then the LORD saw that the wickedness of man was great on the earth, and that every intent of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually.
• Genesis 6:12 God looked on the earth, and behold, it was corrupt; for all flesh had corrupted their way upon the earth. (All emphasis mine)

I passages like these, and then I look around today and I wonder: How much worse does it / will it get before God looks at our world and says the same thing about us as He did those living in Noah's day. Some days...I think we're almost there.

A Billion

How much is a billion?

• A billion seconds ago it was 1959.
• A billion minutes ago Jesus was alive.
• A billion days ago...there was no earth (if you hold to a "young earth" view of creation).
• A billion dollars ago was only 8 hours and 20 minutes, at the rate our government is spending it.