Can we all just agree that I suck as a time manager..... Can't find time to blog....
A few updates.... Vange and I bought the girls a car... the plates are "FLGNOG 1" from the famous quote in Monsters Vs Aliens; "What The Flagnog!"
Took my girls a a couple long motorcycle rides with some friends from LifePoint... good times!
Dawson and Griffin have 2 of the best teachers on the planet; Mrs Levault and Mrs Kocarnik. Wait till 5th grade.... the dynamic duo of Meador and Mueller!!
Went to all my kids' swim meets... they did really well!!!
Live loud, live intentionally, love God and people with every word and every action!
Thursday, August 12, 2010
Friday, March 12, 2010
By Your Side
This Sunday at LifePoint we are introducing a new worship song titled By Your Side from the band Tenth Avenue North. As I was taking time to explore the song, I found some interview pieces with Mike, the singer/writer. Here are a few thoughts from him behind the song which lead to my decision to use it at LifePoint:
The song is God talking to us reassuring us of the concepts of how His love works.
ALL of us have some things jacked up in life that break the heart of God and frustrate Him
We can NOT earn God's love and grace.
Focus on what He has done for us.
We think we have to "clean up" before we can approach God.
We can come to God during our farthest and darkest moments.
Jesus died for us, knowing we would spit on Him, to provide a way for us to be with God.
Forgiveness is available right where we fall... right when we fall.
Gonna be good this weekend (like every weekend).
Live loud, live intentionally, and love God and people with every word and every action.
The song is God talking to us reassuring us of the concepts of how His love works.
ALL of us have some things jacked up in life that break the heart of God and frustrate Him
We can NOT earn God's love and grace.
Focus on what He has done for us.
We think we have to "clean up" before we can approach God.
We can come to God during our farthest and darkest moments.
Jesus died for us, knowing we would spit on Him, to provide a way for us to be with God.
Forgiveness is available right where we fall... right when we fall.
Gonna be good this weekend (like every weekend).
Live loud, live intentionally, and love God and people with every word and every action.
Wednesday, February 24, 2010
Flock You
I'm pretty sure I'll never grow up. (Those of you who know me are agreeing...) I used to love to TP my friends when I was younger (last year...) Vange and I have taken our girls TPing and "taught" them how to do it right.... Fast forward a bit... here we are today with a chance to relive some of our practical joke days.... Driven Student Ministries is doing a fundraiser that involves putting a flock of pink flamingos in someone's yard and removing them for a donation.... they'll even FLOCK someone of your choice for a bigger donation.... You can even "buy" insurance to make sure you don't get flocked again (insert Won't Get Fooled (Flocked) Again from The Who here).
The funny thing is that the kids are supposed to be doing this thing... and the parents of the younger ones just provide a taxi service..... BUT (there's always a big but) what I'm finding is that the "adults" (let's use that term loosely shall we...) are having more fun than the kids..... When all this is done, the money raised will help our kids get to BigStuf camp and experience God in an amazing way.
Live loud, live intentionally, and love God and people with every word and every action!
Wednesday, February 17, 2010
Various Ramblings
Wow... I forgot how to log into my blog it's been so long..... OK so here's what has been going on... in no particular order:
Me and the boys went to our first Monster Jam... they are totally into monster trucks right now.... I have to admit, it was very cool! I've never felt more "redneck" in my life!
Ashli got her driver's permit.... she is doing very well.... but since we only own huge trucks, she feels she needs to point out every yellow Cavalier and Cobalt that she notices is for sale
Took the family to the Boat Show - we have not missed one in 16 years.... we laughed about my dad needing a boat with a recliner... then we saw one! Ashli had to get a pic and send it to Grandpa.
We went to see Dave's band, Downtime, jam at a benefit.
Vange and I took the boys to the Dinosaurs Unearthed exhibit at the science center.
Lastly... I've been going to see Haley's V-Ball team play a couple teams a week.... She is really good and it's fun to watch them play.
Live Loud, live intentionally, and love God and people with every word and every action!
Wednesday, January 06, 2010
Think Orange
I've been reading the Orange Journal compiled by Reggie Joiner. The main idea is getting the church and the family to work together to positively impact current and future generations. The concept of ORANGE is mixing Yellow/Light/Church with Red/Heart/Family to get a balanced mix of ORANGE. Here are a few tidbits from the journal:
- What concerns us more: how we did on Sunday or how our people are doing on Monday?
- Church and family leaders must work TOGETHER (like orange traffic cones) to lead people in a specific direction.
- You can change the presentation of the message to better connect with your target group without changing the fundamental nature of the message.
- Apply creativity to teaching the Bible so people GET IT rather than ENDURE IT.
- How many families stop attending church because the struggle to get the kids to go isn't worth it.
- Design a strategy that combines family with the faith community to demonstrate the message of God's story, in order to influence the next generation. (BAM!)
Live loud, live intentionally, and love God and people with every word and every action.
Thursday, December 03, 2009
KISS / OZZY
Against my parents' wishes, I grew up listening to some great Rock music. 2 of my favorites from back in the day (and I still love these rock tones) were KISS and OZZY.
Being a guitar player, I was totally drawn to the sounds of Ace Frehley and Randy Rhoads. During high school and early adulthood, I limited my music intake primarily to Christian artists. Today I drink in quite a variety of musical flavors. I try to stay conscious about what I'm filling my mind with, so the majority of what I listen to is either praising/promoting Jesus, or at least clean positive messages. There are a bunch of great artists that I feel are appropriate... maybe I'll blog some soon.
Back to the KISS / OZZY stuff. Some of the best ear candy I've ever heard are songs from back then:
KISS: I Want You, Detroit Rock City, Shout It Out Loud
OZZY: I Don't Know, Crazy Train, Flyin' High Again
What did you grow up listening to?
Live loud, live intentionally, and love God and People with every word and every action.
Being a guitar player, I was totally drawn to the sounds of Ace Frehley and Randy Rhoads. During high school and early adulthood, I limited my music intake primarily to Christian artists. Today I drink in quite a variety of musical flavors. I try to stay conscious about what I'm filling my mind with, so the majority of what I listen to is either praising/promoting Jesus, or at least clean positive messages. There are a bunch of great artists that I feel are appropriate... maybe I'll blog some soon.
Back to the KISS / OZZY stuff. Some of the best ear candy I've ever heard are songs from back then:
KISS: I Want You, Detroit Rock City, Shout It Out Loud
OZZY: I Don't Know, Crazy Train, Flyin' High Again
What did you grow up listening to?
Live loud, live intentionally, and love God and People with every word and every action.
Monday, November 30, 2009
Shootin
What should the guys do when the girls are gone shopping? Shoot stuff! I've been having a lot of fun the past few days with Dawson and Griffin and the Crossman Powermaster 760. We've been talking about how to safely handle a gun, and some basics about shooting. One of these days, I'm going to take the guys to the gun range with one of my police buddies.... They'll love shooting the "big" guns....
Live loud, live intentionally, and love God and people with every word and every action.
Live loud, live intentionally, and love God and people with every word and every action.
Friday, November 13, 2009
Read Your Own Blog
I wonder how many who blog go back and read some of what they have posted. I went on a trip through some of my old posts in my blog and was reminded of some good times, some tough times, some promises I've made, and some great stories/experiences.
On another note, Twitter has become my friend. I'm amazed sometimes at some of the people who start following me.... and I wonder how they came in contact with me to start following..... A pastor from out west started following me recently. As I looked through some of the people he follows, I had to laugh... some of these people have twitter names that are "Christianese." Here are a few just for fun:
godsgeneration
Christs_punk
pressingin
diazministry
Romans8vs32
Eph2eighttoten
gotgodsgrace
JesusLantern
Acts29News
I'm sure these people are wonderful people.... and they probably have great life stories... Just my thought... Jesus was a real dude, a man's man... he hung out with some rough characters (on purpose) and impacted lives everywhere He went. I want to be like that.... I'm not interested in being part of a Christian-only social club (some churches are designed to be just that).
Live loud, live intentionally, and love God and people with every word and every action.
On another note, Twitter has become my friend. I'm amazed sometimes at some of the people who start following me.... and I wonder how they came in contact with me to start following..... A pastor from out west started following me recently. As I looked through some of the people he follows, I had to laugh... some of these people have twitter names that are "Christianese." Here are a few just for fun:
godsgeneration
Christs_punk
pressingin
diazministry
Romans8vs32
Eph2eighttoten
gotgodsgrace
JesusLantern
Acts29News
I'm sure these people are wonderful people.... and they probably have great life stories... Just my thought... Jesus was a real dude, a man's man... he hung out with some rough characters (on purpose) and impacted lives everywhere He went. I want to be like that.... I'm not interested in being part of a Christian-only social club (some churches are designed to be just that).
Live loud, live intentionally, and love God and people with every word and every action.
Wednesday, November 11, 2009
You Want To Date My Daughter?
Bob read this list Sunday and I was ROFL!!
10 Simple Rules For Dating My Daughter
Rule 1: If you pull into my driveway and honk you'd better be delivering a package, because you're sure not picking anything up.
Rule 2: You do not touch my daughter in front of me. You may glance at her, so long as you do not peer at anything below her neck. If you cannot keep your eyes or hands off of my daughter's body, I will remove them.
Rule 3: I am aware that it is considered fashionable for boys of your age to wear their trousers so loosely that they appear to be falling off their hips. Please don't take this as an insult, but you and all of your friends are complete idiots. Still, I want to be fair and open minded about this issue, so I propose this compromise: You may come to the door with your underwear showing and your pants ten sizes too big, and I will not object. However, in order to ensure that your clothes do not, in fact, come off during the course of your date with my daughter, I will take my electric nail gun and fasten your trousers securely in place to your waist.
Rule 4: I'm sure you've been told that in today's world, sex without utilizing a "barrier method" of some kind can kill you. Let me elaborate, when it comes to sex, I am the barrier, and I will kill you.
Rule 5: It is usually understood that in order for us to get to know each other, we should talk about sports, politics, and other issues of the day. Please do not do this. The only information I require from you is an indication of when you expect to have my daughter safely back at my house, and the only word I need from you on this subject is "early."
Rule 6: I have no doubt you are a popular fellow, with many opportunities to date other girls. This is fine with me as long as it is okay with my daughter. Otherwise, once you have gone out with my little girl, you will continue to date no one but her until she is finished with you. If you make her cry, I will make you cry.
Rule 7: As you stand in my front hallway, waiting for my daughter to appear, and more than an hour goes by, do not sigh and fidget. If you want to be on time for the movie, you should not be dating. My daughter is putting on her makeup, a process that can take longer than painting the Golden Gate Bridge. Instead of just standing there, why don't you do something useful, like changing the oil in my car?
Rule 8:The following places are not appropriate for a date with my daughter: Places where there are beds, sofas, or anything softer than a wooden stool. Places where there are no parents, policemen, or nuns within eyesight. Places where there is darkness. Places where there is dancing, holding hands, or happiness. Places where the ambient temperature is warm enough to induce my daughter to wear shorts, tank tops, midriff T-shirts, or anything other than overalls, a sweater, and a goose down parka - zipped up to her throat. Movies with a strong romantic or sexual theme are to be avoided; movies which features chain saws are okay. Hockey games are okay. Old folks homes are better.
Rule 9: Do not lie to me. I may appear to be a potbellied, balding, middle-aged, dimwitted has-been. But on issues relating to my daughter, I am the all-knowing, merciless god of your universe. If I ask you where you are going and with whom, you have one chance to tell me the truth, the whole truth and nothing but the truth. I have a shotgun, a shovel, and five acres behind the house. Do not trifle with me.
Rule 10: Be afraid. Be very afraid. It takes very little for me to mistake the sound of your car in the driveway for a chopper coming in over a rice paddy near Hanoi. When my Agent Orange starts acting up, the voices in my head frequently tell me to clean the guns as I wait for you to bring my daughter home. As soon as you pull into the driveway you should exit your car with both hands in plain sight. Speak the perimeter password, announce in a clear voice that you have brought my daughter home safely and early, then return to your car - there is no need for you to come inside. The camouflaged face at the window is mine.
Live loud, live intentionally, and love God and people with every word and every action
10 Simple Rules For Dating My Daughter
Rule 1: If you pull into my driveway and honk you'd better be delivering a package, because you're sure not picking anything up.
Rule 2: You do not touch my daughter in front of me. You may glance at her, so long as you do not peer at anything below her neck. If you cannot keep your eyes or hands off of my daughter's body, I will remove them.
Rule 3: I am aware that it is considered fashionable for boys of your age to wear their trousers so loosely that they appear to be falling off their hips. Please don't take this as an insult, but you and all of your friends are complete idiots. Still, I want to be fair and open minded about this issue, so I propose this compromise: You may come to the door with your underwear showing and your pants ten sizes too big, and I will not object. However, in order to ensure that your clothes do not, in fact, come off during the course of your date with my daughter, I will take my electric nail gun and fasten your trousers securely in place to your waist.
Rule 4: I'm sure you've been told that in today's world, sex without utilizing a "barrier method" of some kind can kill you. Let me elaborate, when it comes to sex, I am the barrier, and I will kill you.
Rule 5: It is usually understood that in order for us to get to know each other, we should talk about sports, politics, and other issues of the day. Please do not do this. The only information I require from you is an indication of when you expect to have my daughter safely back at my house, and the only word I need from you on this subject is "early."
Rule 6: I have no doubt you are a popular fellow, with many opportunities to date other girls. This is fine with me as long as it is okay with my daughter. Otherwise, once you have gone out with my little girl, you will continue to date no one but her until she is finished with you. If you make her cry, I will make you cry.
Rule 7: As you stand in my front hallway, waiting for my daughter to appear, and more than an hour goes by, do not sigh and fidget. If you want to be on time for the movie, you should not be dating. My daughter is putting on her makeup, a process that can take longer than painting the Golden Gate Bridge. Instead of just standing there, why don't you do something useful, like changing the oil in my car?
Rule 8:The following places are not appropriate for a date with my daughter: Places where there are beds, sofas, or anything softer than a wooden stool. Places where there are no parents, policemen, or nuns within eyesight. Places where there is darkness. Places where there is dancing, holding hands, or happiness. Places where the ambient temperature is warm enough to induce my daughter to wear shorts, tank tops, midriff T-shirts, or anything other than overalls, a sweater, and a goose down parka - zipped up to her throat. Movies with a strong romantic or sexual theme are to be avoided; movies which features chain saws are okay. Hockey games are okay. Old folks homes are better.
Rule 9: Do not lie to me. I may appear to be a potbellied, balding, middle-aged, dimwitted has-been. But on issues relating to my daughter, I am the all-knowing, merciless god of your universe. If I ask you where you are going and with whom, you have one chance to tell me the truth, the whole truth and nothing but the truth. I have a shotgun, a shovel, and five acres behind the house. Do not trifle with me.
Rule 10: Be afraid. Be very afraid. It takes very little for me to mistake the sound of your car in the driveway for a chopper coming in over a rice paddy near Hanoi. When my Agent Orange starts acting up, the voices in my head frequently tell me to clean the guns as I wait for you to bring my daughter home. As soon as you pull into the driveway you should exit your car with both hands in plain sight. Speak the perimeter password, announce in a clear voice that you have brought my daughter home safely and early, then return to your car - there is no need for you to come inside. The camouflaged face at the window is mine.
Live loud, live intentionally, and love God and people with every word and every action
Friday, October 23, 2009
Dreamin
I have some really nice guitars... But, I would love to have a Paul Reed Smith some day.
I currently have:
G&L ASAT
G&L Skyhawk
Yamaha AEX Semi Hollowbody
Gibson Les Paul Studio
Taylor 314 CE
This is a great arsenal... but I'm still dreamin.....
Live loud, live intentionally, and love God and people with every word and every action!
I currently have:
G&L ASAT
G&L Skyhawk
Yamaha AEX Semi Hollowbody
Gibson Les Paul Studio
Taylor 314 CE
This is a great arsenal... but I'm still dreamin.....
Live loud, live intentionally, and love God and people with every word and every action!
Wednesday, September 30, 2009
Driven Leaders
Uhhhh.... Not sure what to say about this..... These are the people who LEAD the youth at LifePoint Church......
OK, actually, they have been doing the What Not To Wear series and goin' Whole Nutha Level! These people freakin' ROCK and they love God and our kids so much that they'll do whatever it takes to connect the kids with God! I Love it!!
Live loud, live intentionally, and love God and people with every word and every action!
Monday, September 28, 2009
Doin' Life Big!
Hey... Let me admit that I suck at Blogging! It's pretty sad when I can't find time to blog.... and then, Bob preaches a whole sermon to the LifePoint gang just to beat me up for being too busy! OK, I can't back that up. I think Bob simply realizes that people stretch themselves too thin and don't leave any margin between their load and their limits.... and he is trying to steer us to a happier, healthier life. Thanks Bob!
OK, other stuff: Ashli is playing volleyball for GCHS now... Sweet! (Although she injured her elbow in a soccer game and is out of sports for 3 weeks...) Haley is totally in Heaven because football, baseball, and NASCAR are ALL in season right now. Vange is happy because all of her shows are starting back up... gotta admit, I dig Criminal Minds and House! My boys are both bike riding / football throwing / baseball hitting fools! Also, they are totally into reading Bible stories every night... and Dawson has to read the verses that backup the story from HIS Bible... Cool! Daisy, well, she is one of the best dogs in the world (Golden Retriever... go figure) and her new place to chill is the loveseat... Vange is thrilled (NOT). LifePoint.... look, if you can't connect with God at LifePoint, please have someone take you to the ER to check your pulse!!!! That place is freakin amazing! (not perfect, but amazing)
Last note, some LifePoint "Wild Hogs" took an all day motorcycle ride to Union City, TN and back on Saturday.... very cool!
Live loud, live intentionally, and love God and people with every word and every action.
Monday, August 17, 2009
LifePoint Bash
I'm AMAZED! Yesterday Lifepoint had a End Of Summer Bash at a local park. About the time it was supposed to start, the heavens OPENED UP! It was raining cats, dogs, and various small farm animals! Too late.... Steve, Scott, and John already had the grill rockin'..... and Dan was DELEGATING! Listen, LifePoint people were looking to party.... and we did. About 110 people came out and ate some GREAT food, played in the rain, and just hung out as a big family! I met a couple of people.... Randy was hangin' with Michelle, Brittany was hangin' with Dan, and Vange was the HOT chick I sweet talked into going home with me!!!! (She happens to be my wife and the mother of my 4 amazing kids... muddy, but amazing kids!) Kyle proved that he was workin' hard early... he was the wetest from carrying stuff in the rain (is 'wetest' a word?) Hey LifePointers... you people are my BIG O Family..... and I love hanging out with you.
Short sports update... the Aaron Meyer/Doug James Kickball Team OWNED the Steve Walton/Whitney Klee kickball team.... Just sayin!
A quick serious note: I have some friends that I have not seen in a while who could use a Big God Hug in life... please keep them in prayer.
Live loud, live intentionally, and love God and people with every word and every action!
Short sports update... the Aaron Meyer/Doug James Kickball Team OWNED the Steve Walton/Whitney Klee kickball team.... Just sayin!
A quick serious note: I have some friends that I have not seen in a while who could use a Big God Hug in life... please keep them in prayer.
Live loud, live intentionally, and love God and people with every word and every action!
Monday, July 27, 2009
Not Dead
For the 9 people who actually check this blog.... I am not dead.... I have simply overextended my time commitments and I'm having a hard time getting to the blog world..... I'm trying to dump some pictures of Sunday's Allstate 400 at the Brickyard... Haley and I went - it was AWESOME! We were there proudly wearing our Jimmie Johnson shirts and hats... And Jimmie took the checkered flag... what a day!
Live loud, live intentionally, and love God and people with every word and every action.
Live loud, live intentionally, and love God and people with every word and every action.
Friday, June 26, 2009
Lessons from Country Music
Hey listen... Life is swinging a mean bat these days... A LOT of people, some I'm close to some I barely know, are struggling with real life stuff. I'm watching Revolution Church pick up, dust off, and move forward.... I see comments in the LifePoint Youth blog about our kids realizing that other kids in the world have NOTHING!.. and how our kids plan to react and change the world.... I'm seeing friends of mine going through tough career decisions after losing their jobs.... I'm watching my mom's body wither away from Parkinson's MSA as she sits unable to do ANYTHING for herself... including talk... I get to serve with some incredible people at LifePoint Church as we try to balance our time between family, work, God stuff, fun, etc....
Ahhh yes..... TIME! I heard a song by Tim McGraw the other day... I've heard it a few time before... but this time it GRABBED me! Let me set the stage.... My wife and girls were gone this week, so it was just me and my boys - Dawson (6) and Griffin (5). I not only had to try to keep up with my normal schedule, but I needed to pay some extra attention to the boys this week. So, I made a few decisions... I mowed some lawn clients a couple days early, I took 2 days off from AT&T to hang out with them, I handed the worship set responsibility for this week to Brandon, and I let some of the other needed things wait. OK, back to the song... here is verse 2 from Tim McGraw's Grown Men Don't Cry:
Keep having this dream about my old man
I'm 10 years old, and he's holding my hand
We're talkin' on the front porch watchin' the sun go down
But it was just a dream
He was a slave to his job and he couldn't be around
So many things I wanna say to him
But I just placed a rose on his grave, and I talk to the wind
Bob has preached several times about time and having balance and priorities lined up. Here is the deal... I am AT the tipping point now... I stand in the ring with my gloves on in the fight of my life... and time just took the gloves off... Oh SNAP! So what is the next step? Tonight I will do what needs to done (for church, for work, for pleasure...) AFTER I spend some QUALITY time with my boys.
Ephesians 6:4
Fathers, do not make your children angry, but raise them with the training and teaching of the Lord.
To raise them I must spend time with them.... to teach and train them I must be REAL and ACCESSIBLE. Come hell or high water, I'm going to do it right!!
Live loud, live intentionally, and love God and people with every word and every action!
Ahhh yes..... TIME! I heard a song by Tim McGraw the other day... I've heard it a few time before... but this time it GRABBED me! Let me set the stage.... My wife and girls were gone this week, so it was just me and my boys - Dawson (6) and Griffin (5). I not only had to try to keep up with my normal schedule, but I needed to pay some extra attention to the boys this week. So, I made a few decisions... I mowed some lawn clients a couple days early, I took 2 days off from AT&T to hang out with them, I handed the worship set responsibility for this week to Brandon, and I let some of the other needed things wait. OK, back to the song... here is verse 2 from Tim McGraw's Grown Men Don't Cry:
Keep having this dream about my old man
I'm 10 years old, and he's holding my hand
We're talkin' on the front porch watchin' the sun go down
But it was just a dream
He was a slave to his job and he couldn't be around
So many things I wanna say to him
But I just placed a rose on his grave, and I talk to the wind
Bob has preached several times about time and having balance and priorities lined up. Here is the deal... I am AT the tipping point now... I stand in the ring with my gloves on in the fight of my life... and time just took the gloves off... Oh SNAP! So what is the next step? Tonight I will do what needs to done (for church, for work, for pleasure...) AFTER I spend some QUALITY time with my boys.
Ephesians 6:4
Fathers, do not make your children angry, but raise them with the training and teaching of the Lord.
To raise them I must spend time with them.... to teach and train them I must be REAL and ACCESSIBLE. Come hell or high water, I'm going to do it right!!
Live loud, live intentionally, and love God and people with every word and every action!
Sunday, June 21, 2009
Guys week
Today we kicked the girls out of the house for a week... Actually they went to camp... Me and the boys went to the pool. Dawson is Diving and flipping off the diving board. Griffin was a mad man going down the slide and off the diving board... AND he gave up his arm floaties!!! Here are a few pics...
Had a blast today... tomorrow we are getting TATOOS! Even Daisy (our Golden Retriever) is getting a tatoo... she wants a CAT!
Live loud, live intentionally, and love God and people with every word and every action.
Had a blast today... tomorrow we are getting TATOOS! Even Daisy (our Golden Retriever) is getting a tatoo... she wants a CAT!
Live loud, live intentionally, and love God and people with every word and every action.
Monday, June 08, 2009
Darn It Crap!
When my 5 year old son, Griffin, gets mad or hurt, his favorite phrase is Darn It Crap! Today, I'm having one of those Darn It Crap moments. A pastor in Canton, GA resigned from leading Revolution Church Sunday. Gary Lamb stepped down because of an affair he had with his assistant. That SUCKS! While I'm still very fond of Gary and how God has used him to challenge me, my attention and prayer right now is leaning toward DeAnna, his wife, and their kids. There is a LOT of hurt and betrayal they are dealing with.
Let's be honest, we all sin, and in marriage we sometimes treat our spouse inappropriately. My prayer is that God does a beautiful healing in the Lamb family and that they once again are a potent force in causing people to turn toward Christ!
Live loud, live intentional, and love God and people with every word and every action.
Let's be honest, we all sin, and in marriage we sometimes treat our spouse inappropriately. My prayer is that God does a beautiful healing in the Lamb family and that they once again are a potent force in causing people to turn toward Christ!
Live loud, live intentional, and love God and people with every word and every action.
Friday, June 05, 2009
Driving
I recently took my 14 year old daughter, Ashli, out for her 2nd driving lesson. Her 1st lesson was in a large empty parking lot with me sitting on the center console of the Suburban ready to take control if needed.... after all, she was brand new to this experience. She did so well the 1st time, that I decided to give her a bit more freedom and responsibility during round 2. This time, I sat in the passenger seat and we actually went on a back road... She had to navigate actual road signs and a few other cars. She did really well! I was very proud. Here is Ashli' Twitter following her drive:
went for a driving lesson with my dad. there is just something cool about controling a suburban:)
So, is she ready to jump in the Suburban and drive up to the church? No. She will need much more guidance and practice... more understanding of the rules of the road.... and more chances to apply them. She has started her journey, and it's a journey that never ends. Driving is a living, breathing animal. There is always something new to learn, road construction / detours and potholes to deal with, newly discovered roads, different passengers to share the ride with.... It goes on and on...
So let me ask you something.... When a person decides to cross the line of faith and say yes to Jesus for the first time, how quickly do we expect them to "drive" all by themselves? I grew up in a church culture that believed once you say yes to Jesus and show up at church a time or two, all of your external behaviors need to have changed to align with God principles. In fact, if you still were dealing with a habit or some element of your lifestyle that was not very "Christian" then you must have been faking it and did not really give your heart to Jesus. That's a bunch of... um, let's see..... how can I put this... CRAP!
Listen, the very 1st message that Bob spoke as the Lead Pastor at LifePoint dealt with the idea we are not really concerned with how close to or far away you are from Jesus you are... what is important is your direction of travel... be moving TOWARD Jesus, not away from Him. When you decide to say yes to Jesus, don't get in a hurry to "drive" all alone too far too fast. Be a "passenger" some, learn the "roads" from others and from checking out God's "Rules Of The Road" (yes, I'm talking about the Bible), "drive" with someone else for a while.... and be excited about this new stage in life cuz it is very cool!
Live loud, live intentionally, and love God and people with every word and every action!
went for a driving lesson with my dad. there is just something cool about controling a suburban:)
So, is she ready to jump in the Suburban and drive up to the church? No. She will need much more guidance and practice... more understanding of the rules of the road.... and more chances to apply them. She has started her journey, and it's a journey that never ends. Driving is a living, breathing animal. There is always something new to learn, road construction / detours and potholes to deal with, newly discovered roads, different passengers to share the ride with.... It goes on and on...
So let me ask you something.... When a person decides to cross the line of faith and say yes to Jesus for the first time, how quickly do we expect them to "drive" all by themselves? I grew up in a church culture that believed once you say yes to Jesus and show up at church a time or two, all of your external behaviors need to have changed to align with God principles. In fact, if you still were dealing with a habit or some element of your lifestyle that was not very "Christian" then you must have been faking it and did not really give your heart to Jesus. That's a bunch of... um, let's see..... how can I put this... CRAP!
Listen, the very 1st message that Bob spoke as the Lead Pastor at LifePoint dealt with the idea we are not really concerned with how close to or far away you are from Jesus you are... what is important is your direction of travel... be moving TOWARD Jesus, not away from Him. When you decide to say yes to Jesus, don't get in a hurry to "drive" all alone too far too fast. Be a "passenger" some, learn the "roads" from others and from checking out God's "Rules Of The Road" (yes, I'm talking about the Bible), "drive" with someone else for a while.... and be excited about this new stage in life cuz it is very cool!
Live loud, live intentionally, and love God and people with every word and every action!
Thursday, May 21, 2009
Now
One of the smartest people I know is my Dad. I've learned a LOT from him over the years... and have watched him model integrity like nobody else. Something we talked about a lot as I was growing up was how people wait until a funeral to give someone flowers....
So, we spend time "rubbing elbows" with people and just going on with our happy lives, all the while we selfishly CHOOSE to refrain from INVESTING in the relationship with some simple effort. My Dad's phrase was "Give people flowers while they are still living." Say what? Look, it's this simple.... Take time NOW to tell/show the special people in your life what they mean to you... while it will still make them smile. Hey LifePointers, does that sound something like LOVE GOD - LOVE PEOPLE?
Live loud, live intentionally, and love God and people with every word and every action!
So, we spend time "rubbing elbows" with people and just going on with our happy lives, all the while we selfishly CHOOSE to refrain from INVESTING in the relationship with some simple effort. My Dad's phrase was "Give people flowers while they are still living." Say what? Look, it's this simple.... Take time NOW to tell/show the special people in your life what they mean to you... while it will still make them smile. Hey LifePointers, does that sound something like LOVE GOD - LOVE PEOPLE?
Live loud, live intentionally, and love God and people with every word and every action!
Wednesday, May 20, 2009
Freakin Hero
Doing the right thing when people spit in your face for it is tough! So many of our military people do it so often... they deserve so much more respect (and pay) than they get. Check out this story...
This is an Airman's response to Cindy Williams' editorial piece in the Washington Times about MILITARY PAY, it should be printed in all newspapers across America.
On Nov. 12, Ms Cindy Williams (from Laverne and Shirley TV show) wrote a piece for the Washington Times, denouncing the pay raise(s) coming service members' way this year -- citing that the stated 13% wage was more than they deserve.
A young airman from Hill AFB responds to her article.
He ought to get a bonus for this.
"Ms Williams:
I just had the pleasure of reading your column, "Our GIs earn enough" and I am a bit confused. Frankly, I'm wondering where this vaunted overpayment is going, because as far as I can tell, it disappears every month between DFAS (The Defense Finance and Accounting Service)and my bank account.
Checking my latest earnings statement I see that I make $1,117.80 before taxes. After taxes, I take home $874.20. When I run that through the calculator, I come up with an annual salary of $13,413.60 before taxes, and $10,490.40, after.
I work in the Air Force Network Control Center where I am part of the team responsible for a 5,000 host computer network I am involved with infrastructure segments, specifically with Cisco Systems equipment. A quick check under jobs for Network Technicians in the Washington D.C. area reveals a position in my career field, requiring three years experience with my job. Amazingly, this job does NOT pay $13,413.60 a year. No, this job is being offered at $70,000 to $80,000 per annum...
I'm sure you can draw the obvious conclusions.
Given the tenor of your column, I would assume that you NEVER had the pleasure of serving your country in her armed forces.
Before you take it upon yourself to once more castigate congressional and DOD leadership for attempting to get the families in the military's lowest pay brackets off of WIC and food stamps, I suggest that you join a group of deploying soldiers headed for AFGHANISTAN ; I leave the choice of service branch up to you.
Whatever choice you make, though, opt for the SIX month rotation, it will guarantee you the longest possible time away from your family and friends, thus giving you full "deployment experience."
As your group prepares to board the plane, make sure to note the spouses and children who are saying good-bye to their loved ones. Also take care to note that several families are still unsure of how they'll be able to make ends meet while the primary breadwinner is gone obviously they've been squandering the "vast" piles of cash the government has been giving them.
Try to deploy over a major holiday; Christmas and Thanksgiving are perennial
favorites. And when you're actually over there, sitting in a foxhole, shivering against the cold desert night; and the flight sergeant tells you that there aren't enough people on shift to relieve you for chow, remember this:
Trade whatever MRE (meal-ready- to-eat) you manage to get for the tuna noodle casserole or cheese tortellini, and add Tabasco to everything. This gives some flavor.
Talk to your loved ones as often as you are permitted; it won't nearly be long enough or often enough, but take what you can get and be thankful for it. You may have picked up on the fact that I disagree with most of the points you present in your opened piece.
But, tomorrow from KABUL , I will defend to the death your right to say it.
You see, I am an American fighting man, a guarantor of your First Amendment rights and every other right you cherish. On a daily basis, my brother and sister soldiers worldwide ensure that you and people like you can thumb your collective nose at us, all on a salary that is nothing short of pitiful and under conditions that would make most people cringe. We hemorrhage our best and brightest into the private sector because we can't offer the stability and pay of civilian companies.
And you, Ms. Williams, have the gall to say that we make more than we deserve?
Rubbish!
A1C Michael Bragg Hill AFB AFNCC
This is an Airman's response to Cindy Williams' editorial piece in the Washington Times about MILITARY PAY, it should be printed in all newspapers across America.
On Nov. 12, Ms Cindy Williams (from Laverne and Shirley TV show) wrote a piece for the Washington Times, denouncing the pay raise(s) coming service members' way this year -- citing that the stated 13% wage was more than they deserve.
A young airman from Hill AFB responds to her article.
He ought to get a bonus for this.
"Ms Williams:
I just had the pleasure of reading your column, "Our GIs earn enough" and I am a bit confused. Frankly, I'm wondering where this vaunted overpayment is going, because as far as I can tell, it disappears every month between DFAS (The Defense Finance and Accounting Service)and my bank account.
Checking my latest earnings statement I see that I make $1,117.80 before taxes. After taxes, I take home $874.20. When I run that through the calculator, I come up with an annual salary of $13,413.60 before taxes, and $10,490.40, after.
I work in the Air Force Network Control Center where I am part of the team responsible for a 5,000 host computer network I am involved with infrastructure segments, specifically with Cisco Systems equipment. A quick check under jobs for Network Technicians in the Washington D.C. area reveals a position in my career field, requiring three years experience with my job. Amazingly, this job does NOT pay $13,413.60 a year. No, this job is being offered at $70,000 to $80,000 per annum...
I'm sure you can draw the obvious conclusions.
Given the tenor of your column, I would assume that you NEVER had the pleasure of serving your country in her armed forces.
Before you take it upon yourself to once more castigate congressional and DOD leadership for attempting to get the families in the military's lowest pay brackets off of WIC and food stamps, I suggest that you join a group of deploying soldiers headed for AFGHANISTAN ; I leave the choice of service branch up to you.
Whatever choice you make, though, opt for the SIX month rotation, it will guarantee you the longest possible time away from your family and friends, thus giving you full "deployment experience."
As your group prepares to board the plane, make sure to note the spouses and children who are saying good-bye to their loved ones. Also take care to note that several families are still unsure of how they'll be able to make ends meet while the primary breadwinner is gone obviously they've been squandering the "vast" piles of cash the government has been giving them.
Try to deploy over a major holiday; Christmas and Thanksgiving are perennial
favorites. And when you're actually over there, sitting in a foxhole, shivering against the cold desert night; and the flight sergeant tells you that there aren't enough people on shift to relieve you for chow, remember this:
Trade whatever MRE (meal-ready- to-eat) you manage to get for the tuna noodle casserole or cheese tortellini, and add Tabasco to everything. This gives some flavor.
Talk to your loved ones as often as you are permitted; it won't nearly be long enough or often enough, but take what you can get and be thankful for it. You may have picked up on the fact that I disagree with most of the points you present in your opened piece.
But, tomorrow from KABUL , I will defend to the death your right to say it.
You see, I am an American fighting man, a guarantor of your First Amendment rights and every other right you cherish. On a daily basis, my brother and sister soldiers worldwide ensure that you and people like you can thumb your collective nose at us, all on a salary that is nothing short of pitiful and under conditions that would make most people cringe. We hemorrhage our best and brightest into the private sector because we can't offer the stability and pay of civilian companies.
And you, Ms. Williams, have the gall to say that we make more than we deserve?
Rubbish!
A1C Michael Bragg Hill AFB AFNCC
Live loud, live intentionally, and love God and people with every word and every action.
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