Need For Speed: Carbon

This game is really good. I like the last NFS game, but this one is great, the multiplayer is the bomb because it's like when I was in college and you can play pursuit and take turns being cops. I like chasing people down. It's more fun when you play with people you know...so.....I have it, Jared has it, David will have it, I'm going to try to get by buddy Jacob to get it, and Ryan G. needs to get it. Then we can all play pursuit and prove once and for all that I am the top dog. (I would of course like for Michael to get this too, but I doubt that he will get a 360. But you ought to, you are missing out on so much fun.) Here are some pictures.

O.K. - What did you get for Christmas?

I can not possibly list everything...but a few of my favorites were:

* A wireless adapter for my 360. This wins top present award.

* Need for Speed: Carbon for my 360.

* Many nice shirts.

* Two nice pairs of shoes.

* $50

* Waterproof clock for the shower, so I can soak up every minute.

Blonde

This is something we bought on ebay recently. The girl who sold it apparently thinks that you don't have to tell the post office electronics are fragile...or get insurance even when your ebay auction says its included. She packed it with a whole 3 pieces of newspaper. And then she acts shocked when we told her it broke. We are working on getting a refund. I don't know the girl, but I'm betting she's blonde.

Charlie Moment - sick time

I am sick. Some sort of stomach bug. I've had it since I woke up Sunday morning. It's Tuesday night now, and I can hear my stomach rumbling loudly. But I thought I'd share my experience of Sunday morning.

So my stomach is giving me problems off the bat Sunday morning. I'm in the bathroom multiple times. But I have to go to church, because I've agreed to get there early and drive the youth on the church bus to a church member's house where they will have breakfast and a devotional. So begrudingly, and tempting my el bano fate, I go.

I get the bus load of youth, and take them to the people's house. I wasn't feeling well, but I decided to brave it and eat a biscuit and have orange juice. I knew soon, where I would be visiting. So I go to visit the little bathroom, out of the way of the ongoing youth party, my stomach party persisting. Thank goodness for bathrooms. This was a ranch house out in the country. You never know how the plumbing will be. I hate the thought of toilet paper stopping up somebody's toilet...especially during a social event. So I flushed the toilet out of curiosity just to check the power. It was acceptable. So I went about my business.

And then...a knock on the bathroom door.

"Yep." I answer back.

The house owner: "...I think Chip turned off the water to that toilet!"

-----------------

Wanna get away?

-----------------

I had to pull out my McGiver skills and take the liner out of the trashcan, and use the sink water to fill us the toilet tank.

BTW

If you haven't seen Micah's Christmas pictures on Tori's blog, you should.

It's about time...

Finally! This thing is letting me post.

I just sold Call of Duty 2 and Need For Speed MW. I'm going to buy Call of Duty 3, and later Need For Speed Carbon. I guess I'm just upgrading the games I have. I am thinking of instead of buying NFS, buying a tennis game. I was over at my friend Jacob's house the other day and we played my 360 and his xbox, and we played Topspin, the tennis game. It was great fun. But he beat the mess out of me, so I need to get the new one and practice. He said playing my xbox 360 made him want one, so he is having me sell his 2 xboxes and most his games so he can have the money to buy one too.

Everyone wants to be like me.

Saturday

I've had problems recently trying to post on here. For some reason, blogger doesn't allow me access quite often.

A strange thing happened today. I am visiting my parents and when I got here this morning I was talking to my dad and somehow got on to talking about a kindergarten teacher I had and something that happened with her. About 20 minutes later the phone rang. A friend from back in Atlanta called my dad and told her a lady named Barbara Phillips was just killed this morning in a car accident.

That was my kindergarten teacher.

Saturday at First Baptist Woodstock to hear Ray Comfort and Kirk Cameron

It was a good time. Ray Comfort had a poignant message and was funny while he was at it. I bought some materials that I was going to get for my church anyway because it was at a discount there. I was in Warner Robins, so I drove north to get there, Jared drove south, and David drove East. We just needed someone from the coast to meet us there and we'd have had all directions covered. It went from 8:30 am till about 1 pm.

...and I was there...

...and Jared was there...

...and David was there.

Post for the weekend

Well, my laptop battery will die soon, so let me make this brief. This will probably be my last post for the weekend. We are going to Warner Robins to watch Habersham Co. (where we live) play Northside Warner Robins (Tori's old high school) in the third round of the state playoffs. W.R. is not only the #1 ranked team in AAAA, but in all classes, even above all the AAAAA teams. So Habersham Co. is runnin' on a hope and a prayer, but I'm going to root for them and hope for the upset. It'll be like watching Rocky.

I'm more stoked about Saturday. Ray Comfort, Kirk Cameron and crew will be at First Baptist Woodstock. They have a half-day seminar there and it should be good. I'll be in W.R. of course, so I'll drive up to ATL for it and then back down south. David and Jared are supposed to meet me there.

I took Micah to the local airport today. He walked around and called all the airplanes cars. He actually preferred to point at the actual cars in the parking lot than to look at the airplanes. He is obsessed with cars.

The End. Have a good weekend.

11.28.06

I know I need to post, since I haven't posted since before Thanksgiving. So here it is.

To be honest, I haven't been reading my Bible like I should. I used to be in the discipline of reading it every day. I can't say that right now.

I just got done sitting down and spending some time in it.

I feel fearful.

Not in a scared in a bad way way. But in a good, God-intended way. I went back to Genesis and read about Abraham's servant going back to Mesopotamia to get Isaac a wife, then I read in Job, God's response to Job's questioning Him, and then in Matthew, what Jesus said about it being better to loose body parts than to sin with them and take them to hell...and then what he said about accepting the kingdom of God like a child, and about divorce, and what he said to the rich young ruler.

I feel like I deserve to get slapped.

May I remember amidst all the talk of a loving, kind, God...not to forget; the God of the New Testament is the God of the Old. The God who gives me authority, holds me accountable. Would I leave everything I have for Him? Do I hate my mother and father - in comparison to Him? Jesus was not Mr. Feel-good. He was and is Mr. Truth.

Have you ever thought...if after Jesus spoke to that rich young ruler, he turned...and you were standing there...and then he looked at you...looked at you as you are in your life right now. I tremble at the thought of what He would ask me...already knowing the answer.

I think only after shameful consideration of that thought, can I then rightly turn and beg for His forgiveness; and knowing what He expects of me (everything); and knowing my horrible, weak, self...hold fast to his words of hope for me, "With man this is impossible. But not with God. With God all things are possible."

It humbles me. And sometimes I need that. Times like tonight.

Interesting: Shift from Northern Hemisphere to South

I found this quote by John Piper interesting:

One of the values of being aware of the sorts of things Philip Jenkins, of Penn State University, writes about in The Next Christendom: The Coming of Global Christianity is that it helps explode fatalistic thinking. Just when you thought you knew how the Christian mission and the world would end, and were yawning toward Armageddon, along comes Jenkins with a story of the last one hundred years that makes you realize you must have already fallen asleep.

The book is mainly about the shift of visible Christianity (Christendom) from the Northern hemisphere to the Southern—from Europe and America to Africa, Asia, and South America.

Over the past century . . . the center of gravity in the Christian world has shifted inexorably southward, to Africa, Asia, and Latin America. Already today, the largest Christian communities on the planet are to be found in Africa and Latin America. If we want to visualize a “typical” contemporary Christian, we should think of a woman living in a village in Nigeria or in a Brazilian favela. As Kenyan scholar John Mbiti has observed, “the centers of the church’s universality [are] no longer in Geneva, Rome, Athens, Paris, London, New York, but Kinshasa, Buenos Aires, Addis Ababa and Manila.” (p. 2)

Who would have thought that the most powerful influences for sane doctrinal faithfulness in the global Anglican Communion would come not from the evangelical resurgence of British evangelicals (as wonderful as that is), but from African bishops who regard so-called gay marriage (for example) as the oxymoron that it is?

Who would have thought that thirty or so conservative Episcopalian congregations physically located in North America would now technically be part of the jurisdiction of the Archdiocese of Rwanda?

Who would have though that there would be twice as many Presbyterians today in South Korea as there are in the United States?

Who would have thought that China would be one of the largest “Christian” nations. In 1949, China had only four million Christians. Today the number stands at about eighty-two million. That's over a twenty-fold increase. Former Beijing bureau chief for Time magazine David Aikman projects that within a few decades one-in-three Chinese could be Christian (Jesus in Beijing: How Christianity Is Transforming China and Changing the Global Balance of Power).

Who would have thought that, as Mark Noll says in Books and Culture (March/April 2002), “While European Christianity has become archaeology and North American Christianity hangs on as sociology, Christianity in ever-expanding sections of Africa, Latin America, and Asia is dynamic, life-transforming, and revolutionary—if often also wild, ill-informed, and undisciplined”?

Hot and Sour Soup ^*^

I love it.

My pastor had an excellent sermon this past Sunday. It brought tears to people's eyes, even his own. The message was Thanksgiving related, and he told yet another story from the mission field of people who had families massacred and tortured and made their way to Costa Rica, where he was at the time. He related them to the people spoken of in Hebrews who faced trials:

Others were tortured and refused to be released, so that they might gain a better resurrection. 36 Some faced jeers and flogging, while still others were chained and put in prison. 37 They were stoned[f]; they were sawed in two; they were put to death by the sword. They went about in sheepskins and goatskins, destitute, persecuted and mistreated— 38 the world was not worthy of them. They wandered in deserts and mountains, and in caves and holes in the ground.

He told about how the people he saw in Costa Rica were able to sing praises to God with such joy, despite what they had gone through.

The passage in Hebrews ends:
39 These were all commended for their faith, yet none of them received what had been promised. 40 God had planned something better for us so that only together with us would they be made perfect.

He spoke of how grateful and thankful these people were; but the other main point was that God does not necessarily take away our suffering. Many are to suffer horrible things in this life. It's not about being kept from suffering, but remaining true despite it.

He warned that America too would one day have a persecuted church. As an example he mentioned the legislation of the homosexual agenda that is attempting to make it a hate crime for preachers to declare that homosexuality is a sin. It is already the law in Canada and some other countries. He pointedly asked those there, when those times do come, will they leave and try to find a church with a watered down gospel, or maybe a better music entertainment, or any of those other things; or would they still be faithful…when those times come.

Though it may seem far away, the persecution of the true church that is prevalent throughout the world today, will inevitably come to America one day. What kind of faith do you have? Do you have the kind that will gladly endure those persecutions? Or will you scatter to the safe havens of a watered down non-truth?

What about now? Have you failed even without persecution? If so, how much more when persecution comes?

Non-persevering faith – is no faith at all.

See pictures below, but see Tori's blog for more ^*^

Was Micah excited to see the Wiggles? You tell me.

For many more pictures from the Wiggles concert, see the Little Sugar Mama blog.

The Wiggles Concert

Well, today is the big day. We are taking Micah to the Wiggles concert. It starts at about 3 pm at The Arena in Gwinnett. We will leave at about 1 to go down there. I can't wait to see the look on his face when he sees them. He is absolutely obsessed with them.

I'll let you know how it went when I come back.

PS. There are tornado warnings in N. Ga. today....we are hoping that will keep some people away and we can get better seats.

Today, out on the field, some students were doing cartwheels. They wanted me to do one.

I did one;

I hurt my ankle.

In order

Something funny that we're noticing that Micah does, is he likes for certain things to be in order. He'll take his cars and trucks (which he is absolutely obsessed with and wants to carry ALL of them EVERYWHERE) and he'll line them up in a perfect row and then start applauding. And he is very meticulous about them. Once he lines them up, if you go and turn one to face the other way, so that it is still lined up, but just facing the other way, he will immediately turn it back to face the correct way.

I think he got that from me. I have a thing with that, where there are some (although few) things that I try to get exactly perfect. Whether its printing off tons of labels to put all over my bookshelf to super organize it, or taking a bowl of party m&ms and separating them into separate containers based on color. But I usual grow frustrated with trying to perfect them, and then forget about it. I think he has this also. It is really funny though to watch him try to line things up perfectly all facing the right way. Tori messes with him by turning something around, just so he'll turn it back.

Lasik

I really wish I could get lasik surgery. I've had to wear glasses or contacts since...hmm...maybe fourth grade or so. I wore contacts for a long time, but in general they are uncomfortable for me. (Especially in one eye more than the other.) So I wear glasses all the time now, but they are often crooked, I'm not sure why. Maybe I have a crooked head or something. I can't think of much I would rather have, than lasik surgery. I'm still young enough I could get decades of use out of it before I had to start wearing reading glasses. It basically costs $1000 an eye. Thats $2000 since I have TWO eyes.

It's not an implausible amount of money. But its an amount that makes saving for it hard. It's out of reach enough to discourage trying to save for it at all. I just don't get enough spending money every month to save for that amount. Just out of my reach. I can't really get a separate summer job to save for it, because that would take me away from my family and that wouldn't be fair to them (especially Tori). I can't just pay for it outright, because that would be selfish. So I'm stuck between a rock and a hard place, can't save for it, can't work for it, can't just buy it.

Guess I'll be sticking with my crooked glasses.

Too tired to try hard

This is a picture of me, just laying here with my laptop, too tired and lazy to think of anything meaningful to post about.

I got back and hour or so ago from a leg workout that about killed me. Let me just say, "I hate squats". I feel like my legs are going to fall off. I might be a little more enthusiastic about it, if I played some sport or something...but I stand behind a podium for a living.

There's not really anything on TV on Monday night. ...Micah started making some crying noises, so I gave him a cup of water. He guzzled it...but now I'm afraid thats woken him up, 'cause I hear him on the baby monitor starting to talk. I hope he goes back to sleep...because I sure don't feel like getting up and entertaining him.

Well I hope you all enjoyed this very wonderful post.

Later.

Quiet is not good

I am at home watching Micah while Tori is at church, because he has a bad runny nose. While I was watching TV, I noticed he was in the kitchen and had gotten quiet. Quiet is never good; it means mischief is afoot. So I got up and checked and he was standing by the table. He wasn't doing anything (at that moment). He just looked at me like, "What? Must you constantly accuse me?" So I sat back down on the couch. A few minutes later, I noticed it was still quiet. I knew something must be going on. I go back and check, and I find a chocolate covered Micah, and this pan of brownies with a hole in the plastic wrap and a finger dug crater in the brownies.

Snickers

Just thought I'd show off my dog's big ears.

Hmm...not really much to say. Just thought I'd post, so people wouldn't have to keep looking at my blood pressure post.

...I drove a bus to a judgement house in Toccoa yesterday. Our church is doing one next year, and this group was going to get ideas. Theirs was ok. I've seen better, but overall it was good.

I'm watching Everybody Loves Raymond right now. Funny show.

Alright. Well. I hope you all enjoyed my exciting post.

Goodbye.

BP

No, not batting practice...blood pressure. As you may know, recently I had a physical. Part of that was having some routine bloodwork done. The results said that things were normal except some of my lipids. But I may have eaten before this, so that may have thrown it off. But it said my cholesterol was 206, when it shouldn't be above 200. And my triglycerides were 293, when it shouldn't be above 150. I thought that was really bad, until I found out severe high starts at 500, and a guy at work has 973. Of course the doctor told him he could drop dead at any moment. But he is working to get it under control.

I started working out again after that bloodwork, so when I go back in January, that should be reflected. I'm trying to cut down on my portions and make some better choices with food too. So far, I think I'm doing ok.

The End.

So long, frien....aquan.....thing.

I sold my Total Gym yesterday. It's been a fun 3 years. All 8 or 9 times I used you. It was memorable. Especially the falling off and such. Good thing I only spent $250 on you.

On the good side, I got $150 for it. I gave Tori 70 something of it. The rest goes in the Charlie bank.

My 800th post

Yes, blogger tells me this is my 800th post.

And what should I celebrate this with.....

Scientists at Texas A & M University who accidentally genetically engineered a flying chicken in 2005, were required by the department of agriculture to destroy the experiment notes and had to destroy the chick, as well.

Well, I figured I ought to post before going out of town

I'm driving our Sunday School class to Chattanooga tomorrow, God-willing. We are supposed to leave the church about 6:30. We're going up there for a marriage retreat. The church is paying for most all of it, which is a nice plus. I think it will be like a 3 hour drive or so. Hopefully, they'll want to take the interstate and I can just cruise.

Tori's parents are coming up to keep Micah for the weekend.

In other news, the Yankees lost ...yea!

I need to remember to record the Falcons game so I can watch it when I get back. (These are just my late at night rambling thoughts).

Peece out yooooooo

another day, another dollar

It is so easy to take a picture with my computer and just throw it up, I thought I'd just put this on here as I try to figure out what to post about.

Tori's been having some headaches that cause bluriness in her left eye and numbness in her left arm. The doctors/nurses we have talked to seem to think it is a vascular headache/migrain. We are just keeping an eye on her blood pressure which is slightly raised, but not too bad. Keep her in your prayers.

I think everyone who reads this knows now, but Tori is expecting again. She is 12 weeks along. Some people talk about how they love pregnancy, but for me it (and Tori too now) it is really a nervous time, and I don't like it. But...the stork is not real, so thats just the way it is.

Thats all I can really thing of to blog about right now....except, Michael, let me know how things are going with that Falcons game thing.....

I think we are getting together with a couple from our Sunday School class tonight to play cards...Rook I think. Our Sunday School class is really rockin' right now. Lots of young couples, and it is exciting to see their enthusiasm for serving God. We're loving it.

I've been meeting with 3 other guys as our church attempts to begin a Men's Ministry. I've contacted a bunch of churches, to gather ideas. "Men's Fraternity" seems to be the big thing out there right now. But we have great expectations, as we believe God is calling us to be a part of this, to see men accept Christ, be disciples and multiply (a have a manly, good time along the way.) We are planning to kick off with a big wild game dinner, then have men commit to signing up to a 4 week evangelistic small group Bible study, and then moving on from there with small groups, fellowships, etc. We are still in the planning stages, but we believe God is bringing things together.

Well, I guess thats it....

As my picture says.....peece.

LOST returns for season 3

Tonight is not Wednesday. As Jared says, its "Lostday". Season 3. Let the fun begin.

Jars of Clay

Jars of Clay is kicking off a new tour with a performance at Toccoa Falls College. I'm getting in for free because I'm driving the youth on the church bus. I like Jars of Clay, so it ought to be good.

Haloscan problems

I usually can just use Haloscan's automatic installer when I make a template change, but I switched over to the beta version of blogger, and now haloscan can't automatically install, and I can get the manual install to work. So, for at least awhile, I'll have to use a regular blogger comment box, but it will at least be a pop-up.

Back in the saddle

Yesterday, for the first time in probably about 4 years, I worked out at a gym. Today, I literally have to pick up my right arm with my left, and I can't touch my nose.

I have missed working out for a long time, but regardless, I still haven't been able to do it. I tried buying a Total Gym, but that didn't last long. It's just hard to do it without a workout partner.

There is a new youth pastor at my church, Jacob, and he works out, and said he needed a workout partner. He said he had been praying for one....and so, as to most people...I am an answer to prayer. :)

But it was good. Turns out I didn't realize how nice of a gym is right down the street from me, at Piedmont College. Real nice. Besides lifting, we are supposed to do like 15 minutes of cardio after working out. So doing that 3 times a week....that should be good for me for sure.

So, only 2 more free visits, and then I've got to pay the piper and sign a one year contract to get the cheapest rate. But thats fine....I'm looking forward to getting back to working out, and feeling better.

Haloscan commenting and trackback have been added to this blog.

Webcam fun

This is a normal picture taken with my webcam - all the ones below...are not.

Leggo my eggo

Micah and his favorite breakfast food - Waffles.

This is what being around kids alot does to you.

Kids at church - having fun with the webcam.

Gone Fishin' - for Ron Wood

I went out to my favorite fishing spot again. I didn’t see any good opportunities at first, so I ended up walking around for a while. Eventually I just said, “Ok God, I’m going to walk around the clothes dept. one more time…so if there’s someone you want me to talk to, please let them show up.” So I did, and then on the way out I decided to go ahead and buy some coffee and see one last time if there was anyone to sit next too.

So I got in line, and in front of me was a heavy-set, older black man, in a wheel-chair, wearing a “Negro Leagues’ ball cap. He got his food and pulled as close as he could in his wheel chair to a table by himself. I knew right then I’d found my man.

So I got my decaf and fixed it up and sat down at his table after asking him if anyone was sitting there. He told me his blood sugar had dipped and he got some food to bring it back up. That led into a conversation that went from blood sugar – to him being a trucker for 30 years eating at truck stops – to my being a teacher – to him sharing stories that as a teacher he’d like me to know…one part of which was a quote that a teacher told him that he’d always remembered: “Try to get what you want out of life….and if you can’t get it….get what you can, and make what you want out of it.” He has children in their 30’s and 40’s and one of them actually went to Embry-Riddle School of Aviation, which is where my dad went. After I told him that my dad had been an airline mechanic at Hartsfield for about 30 years, he told me, that he too wanted to go to school to be an airline mechanic, but at that time (in the 60’s) they still weren’t accepting blacks. He said things changed, but at the time he couldn’t wait on things to change, so that’s why he got into the trucking industry.

We went on talking for a while, and I started introducing spiritual topics like the 24 hr / 365 a day church they have housed in a tractor trailer at a truck stop over in Commerce. That led me in to asking what religious background his family had. Turns out he and his wife are Christians, and Baptists at that. I didn’t stop there, I mentioned to him about denominations being what they are, but what is important is having a relationship with Jesus Christ. He wholeheartedly agreed. I got the sense that he truly was a Christian.

He and his wife live in Atlanta, but have a timeshare in Clarkesville. So I told him he should come visit our church when he’s up here. He really appreciated my invite and asked me to explain where my church was and I did. He knew the area. I got the sense that he really appreciated me talking with him and inviting him to my church. I have a good feeling that he’ll really come. I hope he does.

Doctor Appointment

Well, I had a scheduled check up today. I was glad to get a break from work, but I wasn't looking forward to seeing the doc.

I was mentally prepared for the hernia test. It happened to me once before when I had no idea it was coming. I was mentally scarred.

Today, I was ready for that. But then the doctor announced he was going to check my prostate. I'm sure my eyes got real big when he said that. Once again...not prepared. If my doctor wanted to call me his concubine, I think legally, he could do that.

After that traumatic event, I was sent downstairs for a blood test. I asked for it just to see where I was with my blood sugar and cholestorol, etc. So I did all that. So I should get a letter in a couple of days with those results.

And you know....I didn't get a dum-dum today or anything.

Playing with my webcam

This is me playing with my webcam during a meeting. If it looks like I have an "oh crap" look in my eyes it is because I forgot the camera made a noise, and people are going to realize I'm playing on my computer.

Back in business

My internet is working at home now. Turns out I just needed to unplug the modem for 30 seconds. Go me.

Micah's favorite new food: Waffles.

My students recieving a quality education.

This is a picture from the day Micah and I first learned how to use the webcam on the laptop.

Micahzambonie

This is a photo showing Micah sweeping the floor. He loves copying us.

Red Lobster

I see Red Lobster is bringing back their endless shrimp. Mmmm.

I would just like to say...

the show "Pinks" is coolest show ever.

Kelly Family Mission Statement

In our Sunday School class we have been studying about having a family mission statement. We have all been challenged to get together with our family and meditate on it and hammer one out. So Tori and I have finally done this, (because the psuedo-deadline is Sunday) and I think we have it. This is not written in stone, but I'm pretty sure this is it.

KELLY MISSION STATEMENT

We are a God-centered family. We seek to authentically live in a biblical way, so as to cause others to give glory to God alone. Our in-house desires are to constantly draw close to God, lift each other up, and use God’s Word as our Guide and Authority. Our outward focus is to self-sacrifice all that is necessary to actively seek out others, in order to bring them to a saving knowledge of Jesus Christ and then make them all that they can be in Him.

Blog famine

You know, I remember a time when there were multiple blogs that I checked everyday. And they were almost always fresh. Those were the good ole days. I wonder sometimes why I continue to do a blog. And I think part of the reason I haven't quit (or really never started, like some), is because I do this in part just for me. I like having a journal of my life.

Now admittedly, if NO ONE ever checked this thing, I doubt I could justify continuing it. But I guess as long as I have an excuse, I will continue to blog away.

I think of it just as Michael recently said on Drivetrain, "a casual conversation with close friends." (I put that in a quote, so I hope I got that right word for word.) But thats exactly what it is. I've never broadcast my blog. As a matter of fact I keep it purposefully under wraps...not really because I'm ashamed of what I'm saying, but because it is usually personal thoughts or ideas or conversations that are meant for people who really know me....so I don't have to qualify everything I say.

(I have had 2 people however, think that I really allow Micah to beat up on Snickers...this of course is not really the case. I just humorously tell the story of his burgeoning attempts.)

I like my blog. I like keeping in contact with my friends and family through my blog. So I toast you blog; even as the blog Titanic I toast you on is sinking. I choose to go down with the ship.

Cheers.

Charlie Moment 9.14.06

I was discussing with the class the 3 types of heat transfer.
1) Radiation
2) Conduction
3) Convection

During my discussion and constantly going back and forth between conduction...convection...conduction...convection...I accidentally made a hybrid and said conf&$*#tion. I got the first 2/3 out before I caught myself. (Unfortunately that was the bad part.)

Gone Fishin' - for Danny

Trip numero dos to the ole fishin’ hole.

I went off to Wal-Mart McD’s again. When I got there, I did the look around. Checked out the place. But I didn’t see anybody that was by themselves looking like it would be easy to talk to.

So I decided to walk around for a few minutes to see if the situation would change. I went to the electronics dept. for awhile. Then eventually the automotive section. I ran into a friend from church and talked to him for a couple of minutes. Then I headed back to McD’s.

Still didn’t see any good targets. I decided to buy some lunch, and wait for the situation to change. So I bought my food, and while I was buying it, there was a table where a young Wal-Mart worker was eating with an old lady Wal-Mart worker on break. I noticed the old lady get up and go back to work.

But the thing was, there was not a good place to sit near him I thought, plus he seemed to be real into his comic book. (Spiderman). So ended up sitting further away.

But I knew that was the guy I wanted to talk to. I had prayed for courage before I got there, and luckily the Lord helped me out and let me just get up and go sit at the table next to him. (Even though I was half-way done with my lunch.)

So I did, and I made a comment about the next Spiderman movie coming out, and then we ended up talking for about 15 minutes or so about that and then other kinds of stuff.

I knew his break time would be running out, and I didn’t want it to without doing what I came to do. So I asked him what religious background his family had. He went on to tell me that they were Pentecostal. He lived in Toccoa, but hadn’t been to church in awhile. I asked him if he was a Christian, and he said he was. I asked him if he found himself standing before God, and God asked him why He should let him into heaven, what would he tell Him?

His answer was basically that he was a good person and tried to do the right things.

So then I talked with him about God’s standard, and used the 10 Commandments to illustrate how I, (and he admitted himself too) had broken all those commandments in some way. I talked to him how we were not good enough on our own, and that’s why we had to repent of our sins and put our faith in Christ, much like a person would put their faith in a parachute. I went over that with him several times to make sure he understood.

He was very receptive. He didn’t make any decision right there, but I know that the seed was sown. That is what I’m responsible for. I asked him his name as I left, it was Danny.

That’s exactly the kind of conversations that I most love to have. I look forward to many more.

Sow generously.
Sow generously.

Micah Fu - The Legend Continues

Micah is becoming increasingly violent to Snickers as he embraces his manhood and inherited animal treatment heritage.

It is so funny. Yesterday he wants to hit Snickers, so stomps over to the couch and unfortunately for him, Tori blocks backs his little arms trying to wail on the dog. So since he can't reach it, he gets a magazine and then comes back and throws it at the dog. Then Snickers runs to the other side of the couch. Micah walks over, steps up on his little stool by the couch; looks at Snickers, and then gives his best Zidane headbutt. But the hilarious part is that now that is his thing. He headbutts Snickers, and the he puts up his hands in the "what?" position, and then headbutts again. So he's all the time walking over and headbutting Snickers, and going "what?", (even making the "what?" noise). So funny.

Larry Sighting

I saw Larry at KFC yesterday.

Gone Fishin' - for Larrys and Marys

I have blogged in the recent past about how I have felt very compelled in the recent year or so to be actively engaged in personal evangelism. For the past…maybe 8 months or so…I have been involved in visitation at church. That is every Tuesday. Although that does occasionally lead to salvation-related conversations, it often involved just visiting people who have visited the church, etc. This is fine and everything, but I am interested mostly in the evangelistic part.

I have been watching a evangelism training series by Ray Comfort, a renown personal evangelist in California, and I noticed one of his methods he advocates. He related it to fishermen having their “favorite fishing spots”. He suggested that we, as Christians, have favorite fishing spots too. He goes out to an outdoor mall area, and engages people in conversations there. So I was trying to think of an area where I could go….my own “fishing spot”. We don’t have a mall nearby, so I found the nearest thing…Wal-mart.

So the other day I scouted it out, looking to see how I could work it. At first it didn’t look very promising, because unlike a mall, where people often “cruise around”, the people in Wal-mart seemed to be more busy looking into their purchases. But then I found the golden Wal-mart nugget. The in-store McDonalds. Our Wal-mart has a McDonalds, and not only that…but unlike most McD’s, where people hurriedly eat and run…at the Wal-mart one, a lot of people just chill; especially men waiting on their wives. Also, early in the morning there is an abundance of old people sippin’ their coffee and chatting. This was the fishin’ hole I’d been looking for.

So I decided that at least once a week I will head to my fishing spot and try to engage someone with the Gospel. Today was my first day.

So, after doing some work on the garage, I took a showered, put on some decent looking clothes, asked God for His help and blessing, and then trucked it over to Wal-mart.

I walked in feeling excited, but a bit strange. I mean…here I was at Wal-mart, but not to buy anything. I of course had to check out McDonalds, but didn’t want to look too obvious, so I had to pretend to look at some clothes nearby, while I scanned the area to look for a suitable target. They had to look like they’d be in a position to talk, and have an empty table next to them.

I saw a guy, probably mid to late 30’s. Mustache. Looked like a good opportunity. So I made my way in to Ronald’s house, and waited in line to buy a cup of coffee. While I was waiting, the guy got up and left…so I started look around for plan B. Mr. Plan B was sitting by himself in the corner…just sitting there with a cup of coffee on the table. So I got my coffee, and went and sat down at the table next to him.

He was an older fella. Probably about 60 – 65. Bald. Heavy. Thick glasses. And had 2 teeth on the bottom, one of them pointed, and both of them yellow.

He and the other older folks who were in the corner, probably wondered what a 20-something was doing coming and sitting down in the middle of them. I tried opening with some friendly conversation. There was a mother with a toddler nearby, and I mentioned to the man that I had a son about that age. …his response……..nothing….not even a nod.

Ok, I thought,…not exactly a good start. An older woman nearby started chatting about how she used to baby-sit, but was too absent minded now. She was talking freely, but Mr. Plan B wasn’t saying a word. I didn’t know if he was just quiet, …unfriendly….mute…or what. But even after saying something else to him….I got a big 0. I started to think to myself…”oh well, at least I tried.”

I tried again, mentioning that it looked like we might get some more rain.

This time I got a response. The man…slowly and with a country accent…told me it was supposed to rain on and off all day. We began to talk about a couple of things…and then when I noticed him listening to a group of men’s conversation about church at nearby tables, I mentioned to him that there sure was a lot of churches around here. He agreed. I told him that I went to church at Bethlehem in Clarkesville. He said that he went to the Torch. (A Church of God church).

Then I felt a bit of a release, but I didn’t want to quit there, because there are a lot of people who go to church who aren’t Christians.

We talked more and I talked about the Gospel with him, and found out that he seemed to indeed be a Christian and even talked with me about something he had been praying about. But he did mention how he had felt like nobody cared if he went to his church, and had visited some other places. When you looked at him, he didn’t exactly look like someone you’d be attracted to. Old, heavy-set man, thick-glasses, 2 yellow bottom teeth. But we have to remember, that very man is the apple of God’s eye, and was reason enough to send Jesus to Earth. So he told how he felt like God told him, that even though no one else may know he was there, God knew. And so he still went.

I told him, I wasn’t trying to pull him away from his church, but if he ever did visit around again, to come visit us at Bethlehem. He seemed genuinely touched that someone was singling him out to talk with and invite to visit their church. And about visiting, he nodded his head, and then said, “I might just surprise you.”

I told him I had to go, but I introduced myself and asked his name. “Larry”, he said. I told him to find me if he ever came to visit our church. And with that I left.

It wasn’t a salvation decision. But it was a good talk with a man who probably didn’t think most people would care to talk to him.

I look forward to going back soon, and seeing what fish I get next. But I thought I’d share my first experience at my new McDonald’s Fishing Hole.

Crocodile Hunter - Steve Irwin Killed by Animal

Steve Irwin, while fiming a documentary trying to demystify stringrays....was killed by a stingray.

[You knew it was going to happen sooner or later.]


(What actually bothers me most about this though, is that I know he wasn't a Christian...that is what is truely sad.)

Gag Me

On the way home from church tonight, Micah was sticking his finger in his throat, gagging, laughing, and then repeating this over and over.

stereotype

hilarious

Webcam / Yahoo Messenger

Do any of you (besides Jared) have a webcam that works with your computer? Mine does, and I've been trying it out with Yahoo! Messenger. Jared has one, and I'd thought I'd see if any of the rest of you do too.

A good example

This is a good example of nothing going on...but posting something anyway...just so when people click on the blog...they at least see some change. I should be some of your role models.

-----

Tori and I went to Commerce yesterday. We were at one of the shopping outlets, and there was a KB Toys store there. They had toys set out in front of the store on the sidewalk too.

Micah saw the thing he liked immediately. It was a very small ball pit; with those multi-colored plastic balls in it.

As part of Micah's "Micah-Fu" development, he not only masters hand / head to hand combat, but also weaponry. In this case he teased his victim (me) with the spherical plastic projectiles.

He would pull a plastic ball out of the pit, and then throw it towards the parking lot. Of course, I had to play rover, and go fetch this and return it to the pit. He began doing this over and over; amuzed at my fetching of his projectiles.

So then he starts pulling two balls out of the pit. Looking me in the eyes...grinning...and then throwing the balls simultaneously in opposite directions.

Dance monkey,.....dance!

A Reminder

A reminder to check Tori's blog from time to time. She puts some good stuff about whats going on up on her blog. Leave a comment if you visit. or else.

garage mess

I have to post at home, because a firewall at work won't let me. Problem is, I'm usually too tired or busy to feel like doing it. But I just have a little battery power left on the laptop, so if I'm going to post something I better go ahead. It has been since Monday since I last posted....so....that means I'll only post 17 to the 3rd power more times than David and Jared per month.


So... my garage...

I changed the oil in the van and truck recently. Drained the oil in my plastic oil pan as usual. Well, after we left for the weekend, ...SOMEHOW...the drain cap on the oil pan came off....not sure how, it was in a closed garage. So when we came home from visiting my parents, we open the garage and I see a giant black puddle in my garage and flowing out into the driveway. I had to deal with seeing that for a day or so, until I could go to Walmart and buy some cat litter to pour on it to soak it up. So first I had an oil pond...then I had a oil / cat litter sludge spot in my garage and driveway...and then....I come home next and now...I see some animal has noticed the litter and decided to crap in it.

So now I have oil...covered with litter....sprinkled with a crap topping.

Yes!

Splinter Cell Versus Mode Merc

Splinter Cell: DA (Merc Video)

SC:DA Spy vid.

Splinter Cell: DA (Spy movie)

Jerious Norwood vs Titans 08/26/06

Video of Atl. Falcons new stud RB Jerious Norwood. Check out at least the first 60 seconds of this video. Dude is going to be awesome.

Tranzor Z opening

I dont remember if I've put this on here before, but this is that show that I loved when I was a little kid. I've told people about it and they've never heard of it.

Charlie Moment 8.27.06

Today in class I was teaching the meaning of "-ology" ("the study of") and "-ologists" ("one who studies"). They would call out an -ology word and I would tell them what it was the study of.

Basic idea of what happened...

Student A: ...Biology!

Mr. Kelly: ...The study of life!

Student B: ...Zoology!

Mr. Kelly: ...The study of animals!

Student C: ...Geology!

Mr. Kelly: ...The study of Earth!

Student D: ...Gynecology!

Mr. Kelly: ... ... ... ......................

Jason Anthony has seen the light!

Well, apparently Jason has repented of his sins and has come around and decided to post more frequently. Thank you JASON!!! Go to his site: www.microcosm-of-mediocrity or just click on his link on my sidebar.

One-Handed 3x3x3 Rubik's Cube solve (20.09 seconds solve)

This dude is slow compared to me.

Charlie moment and another moment avoided

I had a Charlie moment, and almost had another.

1) The one I had. I was leaving work with a female co-worker. Not a small lady. She starts getting in her car as I pass by. Her car is not a big car. She sits down in her car and she still had her big purse in her hand as she's getting in. As I walk by this lady getting in her smaller car with her big purse I say "You look crowded in there!"

Not a great choice of words.


2) I very well could have had a Charlie moment when I had to go back to work for Parent night. I took some snacks, one of which that I brought in the building with me was a bottle of cream soda...but it was in a glass bottle, so it looks like a bottle of beer. When I was in my classroom I put it in the closet so people wouldn't see it sitting on my desk. So I could just see some parent walking in and seeing me sneaking what looks like a bottle of beer out of a closet, sipping it and slipping it back in the closet.

Drivers License Info

This is upsetting, thought I should pass it along.

Check your driver's license... Now you can see anyone's

Driver's License on the Internet, including your own! I just searched

for mine and there it was... picture and all! Thanks Homeland Security!

Privacy, where is our right to it? I definitely removed mine,

I suggest you all do the same.... Go to the web site and check

it out. Just enter your name, City and state to see if yours is on file. After your

license comes on the screen, click the box marked "Please Remove". This will remove

it from public viewing, but not from law enforcement.

Go to this site:

>http://www.license.shorturl.com

Rubik's Cube in 11.36 seconds

These things used to drive me nuts.

Rattlers freed in "Snakes on a Plane" theater prank

Rattlers freed in "Snakes on a Plane" theater prank
Email this Story

Aug 22, 6:38 PM (ET)

PHOENIX (Reuters) - Life imitating art is all very well. Unless, that is, it's a movie about deadly snakes on the rampage.

Movie chain AMC Entertainment Inc. said pranksters at one of its Phoenix theaters released two live diamondback rattlesnakes during a showing of the film "Snakes on a Plane" last Friday. No one was injured.

AMC spokeswoman Melanie Bell said, "One was found in the parking lot during the show, and the other in the movie theater. They were both removed, and no one was harmed."

The snakes were later released in the desert.

Bell had no further details.

The movie stars Samuel L. Jackson, and spins a yarn about a crate-load of escaped snakes that run amok on an airline flight, attacking passengers and crew.

"There were kids at the show, and it was actually very reckless," Russ Johnson, the president of the Phoenix Herpetological Society told Reuters.

"The snakes' bite carries a powerful venom that could have seriously injured someone," he added.

Tori has posted new things on her blog

Check it out and comment.

Is anything bad going to happen tomorrow? (In a world sense)

If you have any idea what I'm talking about, leave your opinion. And don't be a wussy and wait till after tomorrow to do it. My prediction is ....nothing yet. (I hope.) But it's still enough to raise a red flag.

Charlie Moment - First Week of School

I teach somewhere in the neighborhood of 140 students. I have one Indian (not Native American) several Hispanics, one African American and the rest are Caucasians.

The other day, I was trying to get this boy's attention. The Indian boy's name is "Ansh"...and so I was saying, "Ansh!"...."Ansh!"...."Ansh!!!"

Too bad he's Hispanic and his name is Miguel.

Some new (and some not new) Chuck Norris sayings

Some of these may be new. I love them. Because Chuck Norris bids me to.

-------


Chuck Norris is so fast, he can run around the world and punch himself in the back of the head.

Outer space exists because it's afraid to be on the same planet with Chuck Norris.

Chuck Norris’ hand is the only hand that can beat a Royal Flush.

There is no such thing as global warming. Chuck Norris was cold, so he turned the sun up.


# Chuck Norris can slam a revolving door.

Chuck Norris does not get frostbite. Chuck Norris bites frost


# Contrary to popular belief, America is not a democracy, it is a Chucktatorship.

When Chuck Norris calls 1-900 numbers, he doesnt get charged. He holds up the phone and money falls out.

Chuck Norris can't finish a "color by numbers" because his markers are filled with the blood of his victims. Unfortunately, all blood is dark red.


# If tapped, a Chuck Norris roundhouse kick could power the country of Australia for 44 minutes.

# The grass is always greener on the other side, unless Chuck Norris has been there. In that case the grass is most likely soaked in blood and tears.

# A picture is worth a thousand words. A Chuck Norris is worth 1 billion words.

# Chuck Norris once sued the Houghton-Mifflin textbook company when it became apparent that their account of the war of 1812 was plagiarized from his autobiography.

# When Chuck Norris talks, everybody listens. And dies.

# Chuck Norris once sued the Houghton-Mifflin textbook company when it became apparent that their account of the war of 1812 was plagiarized from his autobiography.

# When Chuck Norris talks, everybody listens. And dies.

# When Steven Seagal kills a ninja, he only takes its hide. When Chuck Norris kills a ninja, he uses every part.

When taking the SAT, write "Chuck Norris" for every answer. You will score over 8000.

# Chuck Norris has the greatest Poker-Face of all time. He won the 1983 World Series of Poker, despite holding only a Joker, a Get out of Jail Free Monopoloy card, a 2 of clubs, 7 of spades and a green #4 card from the game UNO.


I know this one is old for sure, but I’m including it because I like it so much….


# On his birthday, Chuck Norris randomly selects one lucky child to be thrown into the sun.

# Chuck Norris has 12 moons. One of those moons is the Earth.

# Chuck Norris grinds his coffee with his teeth and boils the water with his own rage.

If you Google search "Chuck Norris getting his butt kicked" you will generate zero results. It just doesn't happen.

# The show Survivor had the original premise of putting people on an island with Chuck Norris. There were no survivors, and nobody is brave enough to go to the island to retrieve the footage.

# It takes Chuck Norris 20 minutes to watch 60 Minutes.

Chuck Norris has a deep and abiding respect for human life... unless it gets in his way.

# James Cameron wanted Chuck Norris to play the Terminator. However, upon reflection, he realized that would have turned his movie into a documentary, so he went with Arnold Schwarzenegger.

# Thousands of years ago Chuck Norris came across a bear. It was so terrified that it fled north into the arctic. It was also so terrified that all of its decendents now have white hair.

# Chuck Norris played Russian Roulette with a fully loaded gun and won.

# Chuck Norris is responsible for China's over-population. He hosted a Karate tournament in Beijing and all women within 1,000 miles became pregnant instantly.

# Chuck Norris once worked as a weatherman for the San Diego evening news. Every night he would make the same forecast: Partly cloudy with a 75% chance of Pain.

# Simply by pulling on both ends, Chuck Norris can stretch diamonds back into coal.


# Chuck Norris is expected to win gold in every swimming competition at the 2008 Beijing Olympics, even though Chuck Norris does not swim. This is because when Chuck Norris enters the water, the water gets out of his way and Chuck Norris simply walks across the pool floor.

# The original draft of The Lord of the Rings featured Chuck Norris instead of Frodo Baggins. It was only 5 pages long, as Chuck Norris roundhouse-kicked Sauron halfway through the first chapter.

# Hellen Keller's favorite color is Chuck Norris.

# Chuck Norris eats beef jerky and craps gunpowder. Then, he uses that gunpowder to make a bullet, which he uses to kill a cow and make more beef jerky. Some people refer to this as the "Circle of Life."

# If, by some incredible space-time paradox, Chuck Norris would ever fight himself, he'd win. Period.

# Chuck Norris is currently suing myspace for taking the name of what he calls everything around you.


# Chuck Norris proved that we are alone in the universe. We weren't before his first space expedition.

# Superman once watched an episode of Walker, Texas Ranger. He then cried himself to sleep.

Chuck Norris can set ants on fire with a magnifying glass. At night.

Chuck Norris can set ants on fire with a magnifying glass. At night.


# In an act of great philanthropy, Chuck made a generous donation to the American Cancer Society. He donated 6,000 dead bodies for scientific research.

# When J. Robert Oppenheimer said "I am become death, the destroyer Of worlds", He was not referring to the atomic bomb. He was referring to the Chuck Norris halloween costume he was wearing.

# Chuck Norris recently had the idea to sell his urine as a canned beverage. We know this beverage as Red Bull.

# Chuck Norris invented a language that incorporates karate and roundhouse kicks. So next time Chuck Norris is kicking your ass, don’t be offended or hurt, he may be just trying to tell you he likes your hat.

# If at first you don't succeed, you're not Chuck Norris.

# Chuck Norris's show is called Walker: Texas Ranger, because Chuck Norris doesn't run.

# MacGyver can build an airplane out of gum and paper clips, but Chuck Norris can roundhouse-kick his head through a wall and take it.

# What’s known as the UFC, or Ultimate Fighting Championship, doesn’t use its full name, which happens to be “Ultimate Fighting Championship, Non-Chuck-Norris-Division”.

# Chuck Norris brushes his teeth with a mixture of iron shavings, industrial paint remover, and wood-grain alcohol.


# There is endless debate about the existence of the human soul. Well it does exist, and Chuck Norris finds it delicious.


# Nagasaki never had a bomb dropped on it. Chuck Norris jumped out of a plane and punched the ground.

# It is scientifically impossible for Chuck Norris to have had a mortal father. The most popular theory is that he went back in time and fathered himself.


# Chuck Norris destroyed the periodic table, because Chuck Norris only recognizes the element of surprise.

# It is believed dinosaurs are extinct due to a giant meteor. That's true if you want to call Chuck Norris a giant meteor.

Chuck Norris just says "no" to drugs. If he said "yes", it would collapse Colombia's infrastructure.

# Industrial logging isn't the cause of deforestation. Chuck Norris needs toothpicks.

# Chuck Norris smells what the Rock is cooking... because the Rock is Chuck Norris' personal chef.

"Brokeback Mountain" is not just a movie. It's also what Chuck Norris calls the pile of dead ninjas in his front yard.

# When Bruce Banner gets mad, he turns into the Hulk. When the Hulk gets mad, he turns into Chuck Norris.

# Chuck Norris once kicked a horse in the chin. Its decendants are known today as Giraffes.

# Human cloning is outlawed because if Chuck Norris were cloned, then it would be possible for a Chuck Norris roundhouse kick to meet another chuck Norris roundhouse kick. Physicists theorize that this contact would end the universe.

# Chuck Norris once went skydiving, but promised never to do it again. One Grand Canyon is enough.


# In a fight between Batman and Darth Vader, the winner would be Chuck Norris.


# Chuck Norris got his drivers license at the age of 16. Seconds.


# With the rising cost of gasoline, Chuck Norris is beginning to worry about his drinking habit.

# Chuck Norris was once in a knife fight, and the knife lost.

# If you work in an office with Chuck Norris, don't ask him for his three-hole-punch.


# Chuck Norris was banned from competitive bullriding after a 1992 exhibition in San Antonio, when he rode the bull 1,346 miles from Texas to Milwaukee Wisconsin to pick up his dry cleaning.

# Chuck Norris qualified with a top speed of 324 mph at the Daytona 500, without a car.

Chuck Norris is a vegetarian. Meaning, he does not eat animals until first he puts them into vegetative state with his fists.

After taking a steroids test doctors informed Chuck Norris that he had tested positive. He laughed upon receiving this information, and said "of course my urine tested positive, what do you think they make steroids from?"

# When Arnold says the line "I'll be back" in the first Terminator movie it is implied that is he going to ask Chuck Norris for help.

# There are no such things as tornados. Chuck Norris just hates trailer parks.

# Chuck Norris once participated in the running of the bulls. He walked.

# The Drummer for Def Leppard's only got one arm. Chuck Norris needed a back scratcher.

Chuck Norris once lost the remote, but maintained control of the TV by yelling at it in between bites of his "Filet of Child" sandwich.

# Chuck Norris has banned rainbows from the state of North Dakota.


# Chuck Norris will never have a heart attack. His heart isn't nearly foolish enough to attack him.

# Only Chuck Norris can prevent forest fires.

# When Chuck Norris makes a burrito, its main ingredient is real toes.

# Those aren't credits that roll after Walker Texas Ranger. It is actually a list of fatalities that occurred during the making of the episode.


# When Chuck Norris wants an egg, he cracks open a chicken.


# Chuck Norris' favorite cereal is Kellogg's Nails 'N' Gravel.

# In the first Jurassic Park movie, the Tyrannosaurus Rex wasn't chasing the jeep. Chuck Norris was chasing the Tyrannosaurus AND the jeep.

Most people know that Descarte said, "I think, therefore I am." What most people don't know is that that quote continues, "...afraid of Chuck Norris."

During the Vietnam War, Chuck Norris allowed himself to be captured. For torture, they made him eat his own entrails. He asked for seconds.

# Chuck Norris can jump-start a car using jumper cables attached to his nipples.

oh yeah...

I just yesterday realized the humor of this...

When I got the home address of the JW that visited me, the guy said to "just call before you come."

:-0

Death, Taxes and Jehovah's Witnesses

I just got my inevitable visit from our local conclave of Jehovah's Witnesses. Ron and Jean. An older couple. Very nice and cordial. As soon as I opened the door I knew who I'd be talking to. I talked to them on the front porch for a couple of minutes. They told me a couple of things, then I told them what I believed.

My heart was very sad for them. The man in particular was a very kind man, and I felt so bad knowing he thought he was doing the will of God, and yet unless God pulls him from his false doctrine, he and his wife will face the judgment of God.

Unfortnunately, my other resonating feeling is that of shame. I told them that I wasn't prepared to have a lengthy conversation on our differences. And I should be. I did share the basics of the gospel, but that is not the way you have to go about it with that group. If an Athiest had walked up to my door, I would have known exactly where to go with that, but I feel unprepared to communicate effectively with JW or Mormons, etc. This is my responsibility to correct.

Luckily, I remembered a tip my pastor mentioned from his encounters at his own house. While chatting with the older couple, I asked them for their home address so I could come visit them. (This tends to catch them off guard sometimes.) They agreed and gave me their information. So, just as they paid me a visit, hopefully I will get my pastor (who is able to more skillfully deal with points needing to be addressed) to go with me to visit this couple at their own house. But as Christians we should not be dependant on a church pastor to share the Gospel. We are responsible to be ready in and out of season and on rainy Saturday mornings walking around the house in your underwear (yes I put clothes on before going to the door)to engage people in our culture. What other endeavor is more worthy of study and practice? Teaching science? Working presses? Editing newspapers? House projects?

If there is anything that is worthy of "study to show yourself approved to God" - it is the communication of His Gospel.

Joel Osteen on the gospel

and why he's going to hell.

george bush is funny

Multiplayer action Splinter Cell Double Agent

Snap, Crackle, Pop.

Splinter Cell 3 Matrix/Ghost Recon Glitch

david, check this out.

The Colbert Report - Global Warming

Girl takes pic of herself every day for three years

This was interesting to me. . . for some strange reason. It would be neat to see this over about 20 years.

Stephen Colbert - Palau

The Colbert Report: Episode 26 (Dec.6,2005)

Skip ahead and watch the 10th through the 13th minute.

The Colbert Report - Washington's 2nd

Better Know A District

Better Know A District

He's African-American

The Colbert Report - Better Know a District

Important Information

Judge Judy, with her show now in syndication, has passed Oprah as the highest paid woman in television history.

Sitting on a lawn chair in Area 51

Watch the news recently, anyone?

If Israel attacks only in Lebanon, it is likely this will just fade away as another mideast skirmish.

But if Israel attacks Syrian or Iran; I think things are about to get interesting.

Ah Sookie!

I just put a great Micah dance video on Tori's blog. You will want to watch it. It is the best Micah video yet. It was filmed a month or more ago, but I'm just now getting made and on there. Check it out at Little Sugar Mama (link on sideabar). Leave a comment and tell us what you think.

hats

Micah has this new thing where he likes to wear my hats. Used to, he would just throw them off and play with them. Now, he like to wear them around.

But he hasn't gotten a firm grip on what defines a "hat". So you can put anything on this head and he walks around like that. Right now, he's walking around with a blue and white washrag on his head thinkin' he's the man.

New Posts

Tori and David have both posted new stuff on their blogs. Take a look and comment.

Micah-Fu : The Evolution Continues

New technique mastered:
Mammodragon torndado-mantis

Common name:
Tittie Twister

I have no idea how he discovers these new techniques on his own...

Buford, We Have a Problem

(For those who don't know, my Xbox 360 is broken, but I have a warranty, but BB is making it harder for me than necessary.)

So I called the BB in Buford and tried to get them to let me come swap it out, I talked the the Customer Service gal, and then to the manager and made my complaint that they told me I could do it, and now their not letting me. I told them they allow that in Macon, etc. She said they fired a couple of people for telling people that, bla bla bla., bottom line, despite my compaints, she still wouldn't agree to take it back in-store. So....I have no choice but to go through all that rigamaroll paperwork to get it done.

boo

zoo

Took the kids to the zoo today. Maybe I'll post pictures later. It was HOT!!!!!!! (As I'm sure Michael can attest to, since he was at 6 flags). And don't go all macho and say it wasn't hot, just cause you live in Fla. You know it was hot. The high was 99 F in ATL.

As I looked at the mighty yet majestic Silver back Gorillas, and the kingly Lions,.....one reflective thought settled on my mind...... how cool would it be to see those two fight to the death. Who would win? I think the lion probably would, but I would want the Gorilla to. Those things are super strong...and I'd want to see it pick up a lion and throw it about 150 yards in a perfect spiral. Zoo Atlanta workers...think about it....you could make this happen!!!

Colbert and Congress

more tears...and I also started to run out of breath I was laughing so hard.

You're Not An American

I cried. I laughed so hard...I cried.

Micah and His Many Pacifiers

To see an explanation of this picture - see Tori's blog: Little Sugar Mama / (link in sidebar)

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David's Billboard

David wishes me to advertise his Indian blog. So here it is:

DAVID HAS A BLOG! DAVID HAS A BLOG! DAVID HAS A BLOG!

SEE LINK IN SIDEBAR! SEE LINK IN SIDEBAR! SEE LINK IN SIDEBAR!

HEAD-ON, APPLY DIRECTLY TO THE FOREHEAD. HEAD-ON, APPLY DIRECTLY TO THE FOREHEAD. (If you've seen this commercial, you know what I'm talking about.)

Camp Story

So I'm back from camp. Whew! That was kind of rough on the old bones. They had those kids going non-stop from 7:30 am to 11 pm and beyond. I usually have a problem falling asleep at night; not this week. I couldn't wait to hit the bed.

Overall, we had about 120 or so campers. I had 11 boys in my cabin who had just finished the 3rd grade. One of them accepted Christ at the end of the week. Ironically, it was the kid I stayed up real late with the first night, because he was crying, wanting to go home.

I had 2 assistant counselors, one was a upcoming 9th grade white boy; and the other a black guy who was going into the 11th grade. I mention the colors because it played a positve role throughout the week.

The age of kids in the camp went up to kids going into the 7th grade, so I had the youngest boys of all. I had them on purpose, because I didn't want to have kids I was going to teach the next year (have to avoid that buddy buddy stuff with that group) and I didn't want the boys who I taught last year; of whom some were there. (Because I don't have a "revenge" death wish.)

Because my boys were so young, they caught the main gist of most Bible stories and cabin devotion times, but sometimes a few things were over their heads. (I was pushed into explaining adultery...that was interesting to put into 3rd grade language.) But the boys did good overall. One very good lesson was the one about Jesus washing his disciples' feet. I washed the boys and the assistant counselors feet, and afterwards, without asking, Shawn, the black assistant counselor washed mine. I think that, along with the story of Jesus talking to the Samaritan woman, was a good opportunity to demonstrate Christian love crossing racial boundaries to the kids (and counselors). That is the kind of experience many of the racist rednecks I went to highschool with should have had as children. I like to tell about when my parents dropped me off at a camp once, where the WHOLE CABIN was black except for me and this other white kid. ...but it did me a world of good, because I was great friends with them by the end of the week; and if more kids got experiences like that it would prevent alot of ignorance I see.

But anyway, eleven kids said they were accepting Christ by the end of the week, and there were more who were dedicating themselves to doing God's will in their lives. It was a good week.

But man...in the pool....those kids were trying to beat the crap out of me. They thought it was funny, because they were all trying to take me down but couldn't. There'd be all these boys hanging off of me and I'd raise my arms and declare my invincibility. And they'd try to take me down, and I'd pretend to not notice they were even on me. And every once in awhile I'd act like I saw them and thought they were barnicles and I'd pick them up, often over my head, and throw them. (Except for one hefty boy, who I just had to push down.) They loved it. I have small, finger sized bruises on the insides of my arms from where they were gripping me.

The camp food was actually really good; which was a nice suprise. ....ok, thats about all I can think of to write about camp. Except that now this will be my last week off, and then I have pre-planning that starts next week.

The End.


 

On day 2, we hiked up a mountain. It took 1 hour and 25 minutes to hike up, I don't know how long to hike down. While there, the kids heard the story about Adam and Eve getting kicked out of the garden of Eden. (It was supposed to parallel our having to hike out of camp and up the mountain.)


 

I'm Back

Updates to come. I'm in Warner Robins. When I return home tomorrow, I plan to put updates on.

Top 10 Songs of the Lukewarm Church

Blest Be The Tie That Doesn't Cramp My Style
Pillow of Ages, Fluffed for Me
I Surrender Some
I'm Fairly Certain That My Redeemer Lives
Sit Up, Sit Up For Jesus
Take My Life and Let Me Be
What An Acquaintance We Have In Jesus
Where He Leads Me, I Will Consider Following
He's Quite a Bit To Me
Oh, How I Like Jesus
Fill My Spoon, Lord
It Is My Secret What God Can Do

Gone to Camp for a Week

I'm leaving in a couple of hours and won't be back until next weekend. Tori and I are going to be camp counselors at a camp called "Camp Koinonea". I'm not sure if I spelled that right. Its at the camp Pinnacle campgrounds in Clayton, Ga. It is put on by several churches in the community. I will have a 3rd grade boys cabin. I am going to put the smack down. They will be perfect citizens when I get through with them. ...yeah right. Hopefully many of the children will accept Christ this week.

So, I'm off and will blog again when I return.

You ever hang off your bed upside down, and imagine that the ceiling is the floor, and how cool that would be?

Yeah, me too.

Check this out: www.watchman.org/oprah.wmv

Update 7.20.06

Well, 2 big things. Not really in much of a mood to go on forever about it. But here dey is:

1) Mom is in the hospital. Her routine visit, turned into finding out that she was in complete kidney failure. They have had her on dialysis. They were hoping that some kidney function might return, but it doesn't look like that is going to happen. They did a kidney biopsy, but don't know the result yet. May be cancer in the kidneys. Her other cancer had spread on her spine, and is causing more pain. But radiation, thankfully lessens that.

2) Apparently it is my turn on the wheel'o'major medical problems. I've suffered the past couple of years from, maybe once every couple of months, waking up at night having what I have discovered is a panic attack. The other night, I had several in a row. And since then I have been sufferring from severe anxiety. It lasts throughout most of the day. So, I've been to the doctor a couple of times in the last couple of days and gotten several prescriptions. But I'm trying to overcome it o-natural, one last time, before I get on all that.

So....with these things happening, I would greatly appreciate your prayers.

Hell's Best Kept Secret

God has been talking to me lately. But what He's saying to me isn't anything new. It's an old Word, but instead of just showing it to me in the Scriptures as usual, the Holy Spirit is taking that Word and repeatedly poking me in the heart with it. It is the prompting to take the Gospel out to the world.

One thing I believe God has been using to spur on my thoughts of how best to go about this, is through the ministry of a man named Ray Comfort. He has a ministry in California called "Living Waters". (This is where Michael's post about the million dollar bill tracks came from.) He has a program called "The Way of the Master". And there is a website called "www.thewayofthemaster.com" and there are links there to "www.livingwaters.com".

I first heard Ray Comfort in the summer of '97. That summer Jared and I worked with the local director of Child Evangelism Fellowship to do Back Yard Bible Clubs in the North Georgia Area. But before we did, we went to a training at Toccoa Falls College, where they talked about evangelizing children. One of the videos we saw, I just now realize, was Ray Comfort. I kept asking for a copy of that tape, but I wasn't ever able to get one. I now know that was him.

Years later, I read a most of a book by him called, "The Golden Key of Revival". And then recently have seen his show "The Way of the Master". Ray is good at teaching others how to share their faith the right way. There is a right way. And unfortunately most of modern evangelism does not do it the effective way.

Look at this quote: Why do 80-90% of those making a decision for Christ fall away from the faith? What is the principle that Spurgeon, Wesley, Whitefield, etc., used to reach the lost? Why has the Church neglected it?

There is a correct method to bring someone to Christ. If we do it the wrong way (I won't spoil it by saying what that is yet), then we can make a convert that accepts a loving Jesus without understanding their transgression of God's law, and thus unrepentant and not truly saved...only to "backslide" later.

At the bottom of this post, I will put a link to a page where you can watch a message called "Hell's Best Kept Secret". What Ray has to say, I truly believe with all my heart is absolutely correct; and it is a MUST hear for those of us who want to share our faith with others. So if sharing Christ is of interest to you...I implore you to watch the message. I promise, it will be worth your time.

BTW - Ray is commended by John MacArthur, Ravi Zacharias, David Jeremiah and many others.

http://www.livingwaters.com/listenwatch.shtml





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