Why I blog...

This post is really an edit of a recent entry called "Why I write." But in it, I realized that I'd told a fib by ommission. The truth is, I write because Calvin over there inspires me! Now back to the blog previously in progress...

That's a pretty complex question, but I have several answers. First, I suppose I write because I've always written. For as long as I can remember. Keeping a history, telling a story, sharing an experience; all these things are important to me. A friend today shared a couple of thoughts about my blog. At first he thought it was strange (maybe not quite his words), but as he read, he warmed up to the idea. A chance to get to know his friend a little better perhaps. But what I thought was really cool...a chance for me to record history for my daughters. I guess I better find out how to archive these things in case the system crashes. I wish I had deep thoughts about all this...I really don't. I just like to write, and I guess I'm blessed with an audiance no matter how small! So to you my readers, I say thank you. My life spills out here, and sometimes pieces of my heart, and for whatever reason, you care. I feel honored.

What We do...

About 10 years ago, our marriage was a wreck. Maybe non-existent is a better way to define it. Out of despiration, we attended the Family Life Weekend to Remember marriage conference. It changed our lives...thank God it changed our lives. It's funny, our marriage didn't change overnight...the road was still long, but at least we could see it again. We returned a year later and were approached by the City Ministry Directors..."would we consider joining the team?" We said yes - I won't bore you with the details, If you want to read our story, click the link below. What I will say though, is that if you're married, you really need to go. (To learn more, click the link at the top the page). Nearly 10 years later, we're still on the team, working to save, or simply improve marriages. It's cool! We do it together. We make a difference. That's what we do!

http://www.familylife.com/articles/article_detail.asp?id=769&page=21&keywords

Yes...it is the authorized version!

I know there are those of you who will ask...and yes, it is the original KJV from 1611, you know - the "If it was good enough for Jesus...it's good enough for me" version!

Or perhaps it goes like this..."FRIENDS - If you don't have the gift of SPEAKIN' in Tongues, why you just may not be SAAAAAAAVED!"

Motercycles and toilet paper

I'd love to offer a witty caption, but I just don't know what I'd say : )

Mater?

That's like Tuh-Mater without the Tuh!

We were driving down the road with friends talking on our way to dinner, when we came up on this old truck. All four of us commented that the vehical had an uncanny resemblance to 'Mater from the movie Cars. We all laughed as we pulled up to the intersection. And then nearly fell out of our seats when we glanced back for one more look! I guess we're not the only ones who noticed...

What I do (goodbye Gerry)

It's Sunday afternoon and at the last minute, I've been asked to do the sound for a dear saint who passed on to eternity on 4/11/07. She was born in 1923, and affectionately referred to as a person who sometimes was, "brutally honest." Though many of us despised her beloved organ, we all loved her dearly! So, in the limited time I had...I grabbed lunch and began laying out the mics, figuring out how to plug in the keyboard, guessed who would stand where, etc. I left my black jacket on as it looked a little more formal than my golf shirt. Gerry was special to all of us. The pastor commented, "You can tell the impact of a life by the people who come to the funeral." And Gerry lived a wonderful life! What an honor to serve in this way...quietly, in the back. Turning dials, sliding faders, and making amazing grace sound its best. No one asked, but I burned a CD of the service and snapped a few web cam photos (like this one). I hope it helps...

WOE!

I'm not sure about the OMG thing. I guess it has to do with my Christian values and the whole taking the Lords name in vain thing. I'm not saying that OMG is wrong, but it's beyond my comfort zone. God is holy, and in that light, the phrase seems irreverent. So, from me you're likely to get a WOE (what on earth!). Example to the right! It looked more like a rat that didn't have the good graces to die. You had to be there... I know there are those who would argue that it's not OMG, but rather another internet slang phrase but I'm not going there.

Nappy headed hos

I was on the road for most of the day today. The topic of NPR, and all news radio, was Don Imus and his statement regarding the Rutgers women. The debate raged. Should he be censored? Isn't censorship a violation of free speech? "It's not an issue of black and white, it's an issue of green ($)." He made his remarks last Tue/Wed. On Friday he appologized. And today he was fired by CBS.

I'll be short and sweet. I think with the networks, it is an issue of green. I think he should have been pulled of the air years ago. And I think if CBS really cared about this agenda, he would have been quickly and quietly fired. Debates are run amuck on Don Imus, the fire is being fueled instead of quenched. TTFN!

The middle finger

The things we remember! As a kid, we woul drive back and forth to the small city nearby. We used to ride with my parents, and then when we grew older, we would drive ourselves. The things I remember most are the drive. In the days when we could drive, there was a rise in the road. The faster we went, the higher our stomachs ended up in our throats....like a roller coaster.

This house. I remember it as bigger and nicer. Maybe the paint was better 30 years ago. It sits on the crest of a hill around a curve. But it's not the house that's noteworth, it was the downs syndrom boy who used to occupy the front yard like a lawn ornament. I mean no disrespect, it's just that he was always there. And he had a propensity for communicating. You know, international relations, flipping the bird, giving the middle finger. To everybody, scowling all the way. We used to drive by just to watch him abuse us with his magical finger! It's the little things in life. We'll, these days the house is a wreck and the lawn boy is gone, but a memory is a memory!

Sergeant Button and his Mighty Men

I teach a Wednesday evening group of 5th and 6th grade boys at church. We learn about potato cannons and army stuff and great battles of the Old Testament. We put on our spiritual armor and rough house and yell real loud sometimes. But mostly we learn about being men...Godly men! More later. About King David and about being a man...but for now, let me just say, 'Here they are...the mighty men!'

In case you were wondering

April 5th, 2001

We don't get to chose how we die, God does that. But we can wish, can't we? I love my bride - 16 years today. The photo is intriguing, isn't it? Hopefully you don't see the gruesome, but instead the strangly romantic...and the funny. I don't really know the story here - I just know that this is how I want to die...with the person I love the most. My best friend, my love, my bride. Quietly. Together. Someday to be excavated with a toothbrush by some doctoral student studying the archeology of a place that once was... Happy anniversary darling!

PS-If I had a color, I'd color us white...

Ahhhhhh......

"And once you have tasted flight, you will walk the Earth with your eyes turned skyward, for there you have been and there you long to return."

I borrowed the quote from a Fallen Angel...I seemed so appropriate. If you don't feel this image somewhere deep within, then no words will ever be able to articulate the experience.

The Stuff Life is Made of...

A dangerous plan

There's a spoof on George W. Bush out there these days...in fact, it's my laptop background. 'A dangerous plan is better than no plan at all.' The creator took a great photo of a decisive President Bush, added the words Strategery...a Saturday Night Live spoof become famous in the WhiteHouse. I really like it. And not just because the quote is cool. But because I can spoof a little with my liberal colleagues! What can I say, I've always had a sick sense of humor! Of course, there is the quote too, 'A dangerous plan is better than no plan at all.' I'm all about the dangerous plan...but enough of that...you never know who finds these blogs.

Ballroom dancing and being a dad

Until tonight, I would have described my dancing skills as lumbering. But after several practices, the ballroom birthday dance we attended tonight was so much fun...and I did pretty good if I do say so myself! I got to dance with the three most gorgeous ladies at the ball - I may be getting older, but I'm still charming ; )

I sat one out while my three princesses twirled about, and talked with a young father of beautiful girls - the oldest is three. "Tell me what you think the secrets of being a good father are," he asked. The question to me aback for a second...not because it was hard, but because it's a question I often ask. I talked about being a man which means making jewelry with your girls is OK, but letting them paint your nails is not. (If you've made this mistake, it's OK - just don't tell anyone!). That there's no such thing as quality time without quantity time. That there is a time to debate and teach, that there is a time to teach by discipline... I'll see this man tomorrow. I forgot two things - two important things. The first is easy to say, but harder to do - Always make choices that will earn the lifetime respect of your children, rather than their momentary approval. In the span of a life it is always better to be respected than liked. And the second? It takes a lot of work, but the rewards are immense. Intentionally love your children and their mother. The love thing is hard, isn't it? Especially when the Bible says "Love your wife like Christ loved the church...and gave his life for it...through death on the cross." Yikes! Maybe I have some room for improvement : )