Monday, December 31, 2007

Strength Will Rise

We sang "Everlasting God" in church yesterday. I love this song. On a non-deep level, I love the guitar part in the beginning. I love how the drums kick in and the beat is going. But after yesterday, I will never sing this song the same way again.

As I was worshipping, I thought about "strength rising as we wait upon the Lord". My attention immediately went towards a friend I know with cancer. I thought about their struggle and how I desperately want God to heal them...and how I want them to be strengthened as they wait upon His will, His good and perfect and pleasing will. It was also a blunt reminder about how silly our struggles can seem some times. I thought about how important those lyrics are to me right now...but just how much more important they are to my friend.

Lord, may you strengthen those waiting on You today; You are no doubt the defender of the weak and you comfort all in need.

"Everlasting God" by Chris Tomlin

Strength will rise as we wait upon the Lord
We will wait upon the Lord
We will wait upon the Lord

Our God, You reign forever
Our hope, our Strong Deliverer
You are the everlasting God
The everlasting God
You do not faint
You won't grow weary

Our God, You reign forever
Our hope, our Strong Deliverer
You are the everlasting God
The everlasting God
You do not faint
You won't grow weary

You're the defender of the weak
You comfort those in need
You lift us up on wings like eagles


"...but those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint." Isaiah 40:31

Saturday, December 29, 2007

La Famille



I pass by this coat rack/shelf/thing-a-ma-jiggy in our foyer everyday. I often observe the neatness of black iron letters. And, of course, it serves as a reminder of the importance of family. The other day as I passed by it I thought: "Hmmm, life isn't really that neat and orderly...not often at least." In fact, if you have kids...and we have a few (understatement)...life rarely feels that in order. So, I decided to put my own artistic touch to it:



That's a little more like it. (ha). And yes, I put it back in order before the wife caught me.

Friday, December 28, 2007

You Need To Laugh

You cannot be mad at somebody who makes you laugh. -- Jay Leno
The most wasted of all days is one without laughter. -- E. E. Cummings
It's really wonderful to be here today in the great state of Chicago.
-- Former Vice President Dan Quayle
Seriousness is the only refuge of the shallow. -- Oscar Wilde


I just spent over an hour watching comedians on youtube. It was a nice break. I'm of the opinion that you need to laugh...every day...and that laughter truly is good medicine.

Thursday, December 27, 2007

Nirvana

Ladies and Gents, boys and girls, lend me your ear please:

Tonight I experienced something life altering...perhaps only for a brief time...but life changing none-the-less. It was a Christmas gift I received from my wife and it has turned out to be the best gift ever. (Scratch that, God giving his only Son for all mankind that we may know Him, have life to the fullest, and avoid eternal damnation in complete separation from God...that would be the BEST GIFT EVER.)

Tonight I experienced something that will no doubt (warning, major exaggerations approaching) make me a better husband, father, co-worker, and friend. This something will increase my volume in sales in my job. It will make me pick up after myself around the house...whoa, that may be stretching it.

I'm at peace. I'm relaxed. Right now I could probably be punched in the face and not care. I could even be in a room with a Bama fan for more than 5 minutes (wait, make that 3 and 1/2 minutes). I could drop my cell phone in a bucket of water and laugh. I could hit a deer with my car and then also have transmission trouble with that same car 2 days later and not get stressed. (Oh wait, that really did just happen.)

Enough already, what is it!?!?!!!!!!

1 hour back massage.

My first one ever. The professional kind. (Is there any other?) Cheesy music, dark room...you know, the fru-fru stuff...that I used to make fun of. NO MORE! Dude, I just wish they were not so expensive. Now I feel I need one every week! What a great stress reliever. HIGHLY recommend it to everyone.

Tuesday, December 25, 2007

Official Deer Hunter

Growing up, I was never much for deer hunting. Fishing? Oh yeah. I liked that. Plenty of movement, multiple castings per minute. But deer hunting?....Putting a non-medicated ADD dude like me in a deer stand and asking me to sit there by myself for hours and have about a 13% chance of seeing a deer and only about a 7% chance of shooting one...no thanks, I'll pass. My 2 brothers and Dad are big hunters, but I just could never catch the fever.

But, tonight, I consider myself officially a deer hunter. Now I must clarify something. My methods are somewhat UN-conventional. In fact, you might say they are illegal. You see, what I do is load up my 98 GMC Suburban, load it down with Christmas gifts, 4 kids, and a gorgeous wife (any points there babe?), and travel down Hwy 72 east towards Scottsboro, AL...just outside Huntsville, AL. And my trick is to get the deer (a dough in this instance...but a big one) to leap out at my car....kamikaze style. In doing so, my vehicle - traveling around 65-70 mph - enters a battle with this ferocious beast. The battle is very quick. Let's say around .4672 of a second. There's really no pain involved (for you PETA folk). It's over before you know it.

And that's how I nabbed my first deer tonight. (Poor thing.) Fortunately everyone is OK (not the deer of course) and my State Farm buddies will get a visit from me tomorrow. The 3 large dents on the right side are quite impressive.

Wonder if putting the deer urine on the front hood made it an unfair advantage?

Monday, December 24, 2007

Merry Christmas Eve

Hope everyone is having merry Christmas. During this time away from work, I'm doing something I need to do more of...read. Right now I'm on ch.5 of Beck's book. Good stuff so far.

I'm estimating about a 7 pound gain during this Christmas break. Mmmmm, red velvet cake...mmmm...coconut cake...mmmm....28 pounds of turkey....

Monday, December 17, 2007

Today's Tid Bits

+ Kinda sad how our society has lost the art of listening. Listening is so vital to your family, your business, your ministry.

+ I just threw out some el junko that was just taking up space in our bedroom closet. I stopped and laughed as I found 4 bats (wiffle ball and kid toy bats). They were in our closet because we had to confiscate them from our 4 kids. Handing a bat to a 6,4,3,or 2 year old and saying "Now don't hit your brother or sister..." is like putting a DQ Heath Bar Blizzard in front of me and saying "Now don't eat it Johnny"; it aint happenin!

+ Looking forward to seeing out-of-town family over the Christmas break. We've already traveled some and will make more rounds this weekend. Family is important, no matter how dysfunctional. :-) (Note: That is a generic statement...applying to a lot of families...not necessarily mine...ha.)

+ Auburn has a new OC. Very very mixed reviews so far. Personally, I'm excited to see a spread offense. I think we will still pound the ball on the ground...this only adds to the arsenal.

+ Now that it's finally cold - I crave the slopes. Is there any better sound in the world than the slush of the snow on your skis...and then SILENCE...because you just took major air on a jump?!?! The answer is no, there is no better sound (or lack of sound).

Sunday, December 16, 2007

ESPN College Football Playoff Simulator

Enjoy:

Clicky

Friday, December 14, 2007

Friday's Pic (Yes, I'm in a Pic mood lately)

Thursday, December 13, 2007

Recent Random Family Pics





Wednesday, December 12, 2007

Pic of the Day (Wonderfully Funny)

Bobby Petrino's press conference Pig Sooi (Dude, that's just funny)

Tuesday, December 11, 2007

I like the visitor section

I've attended many sporting events. Mostly Auburn, of course. On multiple occasions I've sat near the visitor section. Usually, at first, I'm not all that excited about my seat. After all, I want to be close to the action - the student section. They stand the whole time. They are the loudest. Most of the energy comes from this section.

But I started thinking more about my past experiences sitting near the visitor section and I've concluded that I enjoy it. Why? Well, I like to see their reaction. I want to know if they are enjoying themselves. (OK, and truth be known....maybe I want to rub it in if we are pounding them. Just kidding, sorta.) But take Auburn for instance. When I sit near the visitor section I can see their reaction to the band marching around the field. I can watch their eyes light up when the eagle hovers over 90,000 people and lands in the middle of the field. I can see how they respond to the pre-game video and the players rushing the field through the tunnel.

Now, obviously, I don't quite expect them to convert. After all, they are there to support THEIR team. Most could care less about our wonderful traditions. To me, though, it's AUsome. It's in my blood. I'm screaming on the inside: "Look at this! It doesn't get any better than this! Incredible! Don't you want to become an Auburn fan as well?!"

Now here's the stretch (where I stretch this - far as it may be - into a spiritual application): I think it's OK to use this as a way of illustrating how we need to be around spiritual visitors - both to our home and our church. When we have a guest in our church, maybe someone we personally invited, it matters, doesn't it? We want to know if they are having a good time. We want to see their reaction to the message being preached and the songs being sung (or sanged or sunged or...just kidding). We want to know if God is reaching them like HE did us! We want them to COME AND SEE what the Lord is doing. Come and experience a great movement. And in our homes - we want them to know of God's sustaining power, that can hold a family together. We want them to experience Christ's love, poured out through us.

So my conclusion is this: If I can like the visitor section of Jordan-Hare Stadium....how much more should I love the visitor section of my home and church and workplace? If I can be excited about silly man made traditions (though AUsome they may be) that support a college and its team....than how much more excited should I be over spiritual, eternal, life changing decisions being made on a daily basis?

Friday, December 07, 2007

Conference Comparison

I can't imagine a poor turn out like this ever happening at a SEC Championship Game. Dude, that's just embarrassing for the ACC.

Thursday, December 06, 2007

I'm Not Sure Who I'll Support Yet - but I like this answer and he seems genuine (but I haven't done my homework yet)

Tuesday, December 04, 2007

Too Close

I'm going to be bold. I'm going to share something personal. My wife and I are too close. In fact, I would venture to say we've been too close since day one - January 15, 2000 - the day we said "I do".

About 2 months ago, we began discussing this problem openly and honestly. We both immediately knew the solution. We both were on the same page on how to solve the problem...after all, minds too close think alike. The problem had been that for the past 8 years, the solution to the problem was unattainable. The means to get the solution seemed improbable.

But with much excitement and anticipation and thankfulness, I report to you, my friends, that me and Dana's problem will be solved tomorrow evening. That's right, in 24 hours our marriage will be strengthened. Ok, that's an understatement. Our marriage is going to be saved!

Tomorrow --------- our King size bed will be delivered. (And we joyfully remove our Queen bed of 8 years.)

Close no more.

:-)

Sunday, December 02, 2007

Now That's Stupid


No matter what happens tonight in the College Football Bowl Selection, it will be WRONG. Multiple teams will have legitimate arguments of why they should have a shot at playing for a national championship. I can't believe for this many years there has been an uproar from fans and coaches, etc, and no change has been made. Gosh I hate what money can do to good stuff. Have a stinkin playoff! College football is the only sport without one. LET THEM PROVE WHO'S NUMBER ONE ON THE FIELD!!!!!!! (Can you tell my opinion on the whole thing?) And no, I'm not just a bitter Auburn fan. (We got snubbed in 04, after going undefeated in the SEC...craziness.) Here's the only thing: Do we trust them to establish the playoff system correctly? After all, a popularity contest now decides who plays in the "championship" game. Argh. Craziness.


Let's riot.

Saturday, December 01, 2007

Auburn Alabama Game IRON BOWL 2007 - TOOMERS CORNER (a little long, but good stuff)