The week is finally over

This has not been one of my best weeks. I do not handle change really well. I like to believe that I am a go-with-the-flow kind of guy, but the reality of it is I bend about as well as an I-beam. The kids are all back in school now. We are in full swing with the extra curricular activities. I am working in a 'higher' paygrade at my unit. Etc, etc, etc. So I am just out of sorts. Please pray that God would help me navigate through this. There are so many worse things that could be going on and I am jsut acting ungrateful for all the things He has done for me. Verse for today: James 3:5b-10, ESV How great a forest is set ablaze by such a small fire! And the tongue is a fire, a world of unrighteousness. The tongue is set among our members, staining the whole body, setting on fire the entire course of life, [1] and set on fire by hell. [2] For every kind of beast and bird, of reptile and sea creature, can be tamed and has been tamed by mankind, but no human being can tame the tongue. It is a restless evil, full of deadly poison. With it we bless our Lord and Father, and with it we curse people who are made in the likeness of God. From the same mouth come blessing and cursing. My brothers, [3] these things ought not to be so.

Trouble sleeping

Ok, this is going to sound wierd... but last night I was having trouble staying asleep. It was not things running through my mind (that I know of), it was not the TV - which was off, I could not put my finger on it. I would fall asleep, and then a few minutes later wake up again. Finally in desperation I just got our spare balnket out of the closet and snagged a pillow and plopped right down on the floor beside the bed. Now someone may have thought that I was heading to our guestroom, or maybe the couch. Nope! For me, when I can't sleep, the best way to fall asleep fast - and stay asleep, is to get on the floor. I don't get it, I don't understand it, but that is the place I get my best sleep. Verse for today: John 12:39-43, ESV Therefore they could not believe. For again Isaiah said, “He has blinded their eyes and hardened their heart, lest they see with their eyes, and understand with their heart, and turn, and I would heal them.” Isaiah said these things because he saw his glory and spoke of him. Nevertheless, many even of the authorities believed in him, but for fear of the Pharisees they did not confess it, so that they would not be put out of the synagogue; for they loved the glory that comes from man more than the glory that comes from God.

Deja Vu

On Monday my beloved and I were able to watch the movie Deja Vu. Man that was a good movie. It had some of things we both love in movies. It was a little Sci-Fi, a little detective, and a little bit love story. You have to pay attention, and there are some frightening moments. But over all I really think this movie was well done and would recommend it. That's all I have for now... it's been a crazy day. Verse for today: John 2:2-5, ESV Jesus also was invited to the wedding with his disciples. When the wine ran out, the mother of Jesus said to him, “They have no wine.” And Jesus said to her, “Woman, what does this have to do with me? My hour has not yet come.” His mother said to the servants, “Do whatever he tells you.”

Changes around the Dojo

My real one (my home), not this virtual one. The kids are back to school now, and DS1 has to catch the bus at 6:45 am! Ugh! Now, I am blessed with a job that allows me to sleep until 7:00 usually - sometimes even later - so this has brought about some changes. First, and foremeost, my beloved is actually getting up at 6:00am. This is not her normal, or preferred, time of day. ;~) And it's killing me. She is the type that sets the alarm for like an hour ahead of time so that she can 'gradually' start her day by hitting the snooze button 15 times. Me, I wake up with the radio, with the volume set to like '3' and can (usually) roll out of bed, rub my eyes, and stumble into the bathroom. Not my beloved, no! She has the gongs going off at about 120 decibles, and they will work their way into her dreams at times. I'm being silly of course, but it amazes me how she can adjust her self so 'easily'. We are going on a week with this new schedule and I've still not adjusted. I want my routine. :~) To give you an idea how easily my beloved 'shifts gears' here is a fun story that I like to tell... When the Lord blessed us with each of our children, we decided to breast feed each of them for at least a year. When they each came along my beloved went from a woman who would not wake up if cow bells were ringing besider her to a whirling dirvish with the faintest cry of hunger from the far kids bedroom. She was up and she was all about making sure the child was taken care of. Don't get me wrong - I spent a fair share of time changing diapers, or rocking sick children - but when it came time to feed - she was on it! When the night came that it was time for the children to learn how to sleep through the night (no feeding) you could not wake this woman up with a hand grenade! Me on the other hand... there I lay, bloodshot eyes waiting for the child to go back to sleep. My beloved would not move a muscle! I knew I was in trouble when I felt my beloved's foot slide over under the covers, stop, then ever so slightly nudge me. As if to say, "your turn". She claims to be totally unaware of this change, but I am here to tell you that she does it. She tells me that she can't help it (being totally out of it while she's asleep), but if the change was that dramatic - I think she has more control over it than she thinks she does. Now, I just need to get myself up and moving earlier than I am used to. Verse for today: Proverb 31:10-12, ESV An excellent wife who can find? She is far more precious than jewels. The heart of her husband trusts in her, and he will have no lack of gain. She does him good, and not harm, all the days of her life. amen - I give thanks to the Lord for my beloved. She is mine, and I am hers...

Comraderie

I am torn. A few months back most of my National Guard unit were called to active duty and are now serving. I was not activated. I know God ultimately had a hand in that and I am grateful. But right now I am really struggling to get motivated to even make it to my weekend drills. The only reason I am even still in uniform is for fairly selfish reasons... I want to retire at my current paygrade, and I have to serve for a certain amount of time in that paygrade before I can do that. But I find myself feeling torn. I want to get that retirement packet in just as soon as I meet that requirement, but I also feel like in doing so I am letting my fellow soldiers down. Like I am not supporting them until they get home. I get a lot of people telling me that I've done my time, that I have served my country. Ultimately I have to do what is best for my family. But if I fail to support those whom are sent into harms way, and right now it feels like being in uniform does that, especially those with whom I have served and trained with, what am I going to think of myself? I have never considered myself a selfish man, but I also know I wage that war with sin on a moment, day-by-day, basis. I just pray that God would show me what He would have me do. He is the one I ultimately have to serve and stanb before to give an account. I also pray that he would help me see, just a glimpse, of the picture. Verse for today: 1 Corinthians 10:12-14, ESV Therefore let anyone who thinks that he stands take heed lest he fall. No temptation has overtaken you that is not common to man. God is faithful, and he will not let you be tempted beyond your ability, but with the temptation he will also provide the way of escape, that you may be able to endure it. Therefore, my beloved, flee from idolatry.

Ok, I'm finally going to say something

I am sure that anyone who might happen along this little blog in cyber-space knows about the whole Micheal Vick situation. Somethings that have come out and I've been itching to say something, anything, but for the most part I've bitten my tongue. Before I say anything I want to be up front and say that I have never been very favorable in my opinion of Micheal Vick. The man is a gifted athlete, there is no denying that. Although I have never met the man in person, and I must admit that my bias has to at least be in part due to media coverage (since that has been my only exposure to him), I have just never developed a good opinion. I feel that he is (or was) a proud, boastful man. A point has been made that these crimes have been against dogs. That it's not like he hit his wife or anything. And I agree. The public out cry has been extremely disproportionate. What if he was raising roosters? Sure some groups would be up in arms, and he still might be facing charges, but I don't think the public opinion would be as emotional. One thing I think this whole thing has really done is show that profesional atheletes really are treated differently than us commoners. I'm not saying that Mr. Vick is receiving any favorable treatment, or that the government is not coming down hard enough on him. In this case it really seems like things are being handled in an even hand. What I am referring to are things like when an athelete does hit his wife. Or an athelete is caught possesing drugs or is drunk. Most of the time these crimes are brushed under the rug in the court of public opinion - wether or not the crimes are handled evenly or not. Why? Because we've become dull to these kinds of offenses. The judicial system does not work the same way in Arizona as it does in Virginia. Where this case really sticks out is that it is just a rare one... at least one that is not reported in the media all that often. What brought the spotlight so bright was the fact that Mr. Vick was involved. No one except the defendents in these cases are really going to know the extent of the involvement. I never said in my mind that he was absolutely guilty, but what I saw on the news did not look good. I probably think a little more severely at the man now that he has back tracked and pled guilty - and maybe that is a way to save some skin because he feels that he has already lost despite his innocence, maybe it's a way to prevent the full affect of his crimes from falling on him - I don't know. What I do know is that it should not matter if this was a crime against dogs, or a man hitting his wife. The penalty should at least be proportionate. Mr. Vick - I respect you as a man, and a gifted athlete. God knows you owned the Panthers for a time. They couldn't win against you and the Falcons. I do not know what the judge, or the NFL has in store for you. But I would like you to know that I am praying for you - not as an enemy, but as a fellow man. May you find your way through this storm to peaceful harbors, and may you rest in the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ. I do not know you, or know much about the hardships you faced. But I do pray for you to be restored in time to a place where young men and women can look up to you once more. Verse for today: Job 33:23-30, ESV If there be for him an angel, a mediator, one of the thousand, to declare to man what is right for him, and he is merciful to him, and says, ‘Deliver him from going down into the pit; I have found a ransom; let his flesh become fresh with youth; let him return to the days of his youthful vigor’; then man [3] prays to God, and he accepts him; he sees his face with a shout of joy, and he restores to man his righteousness. He sings before men and says: ‘I sinned and perverted what was right, and it was not repaid to me. He has redeemed my soul from going down into the pit, and my life shall look upon the light.’ “Behold, God does all these things, twice, three times, with a man, to bring back his soul from the pit, that he may be lighted with the light of life.

Blink and you'll miss it

Today just zipped by faster than I could blink... I will just have to pray about how to best proceed concerning DS2. He has orientation tomorrow evening. I have been getting DS1 up early in preperation for his new school schedule. The bus picks him up before 7 AM now. Ugh! DD3 started her gymnastics class. It only runs six weeks, but she loves it. My beloved is SO looking forward to getting the kids out from under her feet. I am getting that deer in the headlight look as she talks about painting, cleaning, etc. :) Going to run for now... God bless... Verse for today: 1 Corinthians 13 If I speak in the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I am a noisy gong or a clanging cymbal. And if I have prophetic powers, and understand all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have all faith, so as to remove mountains, but have not love, I am nothing. If I give away all I have, and if I deliver up my body to be burned, [1] but have not love, I gain nothing. Love is patient and kind; love does not envy or boast; it is not arrogant or rude. It does not insist on its own way; it is not irritable or resentful; [2] it does not rejoice at wrongdoing, but rejoices with the truth. Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things. Love never ends. As for prophecies, they will pass away; as for tongues, they will cease; as for knowledge, it will pass away. For we know in part and we prophesy in part, but when the perfect comes, the partial will pass away. When I was a child, I spoke like a child, I thought like a child, I reasoned like a child. When I became a man, I gave up childish ways. For now we see in a mirror dimly, but then face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I have been fully known. So now faith, hope, and love abide, these three; but the greatest of these is love.

Autism and the public school system

Yesterday I blogged about getting ready for the upcoming school year. I also mentioned about the struggles I am having with DS2, his Autism (Aspergers) and especially the struggles with his peers. We have a lot of things going on for DS2. His under medication to help (something I know very little about :( ), he takes 'riding therapy' lessons, he sees doctors at least once a month (sometimes just to see how the meds are working, sometimes with psycologist). We also attend - as a family usually - an Autism support group, and once a month he is in a "social skills" group. I am not 100% sure of what a blogging friend (thanks Susan) was referring to when she mentioned working with the 'socialization' within the classroom. I guess a part of me assumed that this was something the teachers and aides do. I will have to read about this some more. I was also considering taking an afternoon to go (with my beloved) sometime in the first week or two of classes to talk to his classmates about it. I've heard that was something that was pretty helpful. I think what I fear the most, is him pulling away from his family. He is so different from his brother and sister. I want so much more for him... and I am unable to give him very much. At least not in ways that I can detect him being receptive. I fear failing him as a father, and I fear - most of all - that I will somehow fail to reveal to him the Father. It feels like the world is against us, and would love for nothing more than to drive a wedge between us - isolating my son enough that he feels like he is all alone. I may know that is not the truth, but what is my son's perception? That is what matters. Verse for today: Matthew 19:13-15, ESV Then children were brought to him that he might lay his hands on them and pray. The disciples rebuked the people, but Jesus said, “Let the little children come to me and do not hinder them, for to such belongs the kingdom of heaven.” And he laid his hands on them and went away.

Getting ready for school

Ah, it is "The Most wonderful Time of the Year". I love that commercial that shows mom and dad dancing around, buying school supplies and the kids are all mopey. It is also kind of a drag for me. I am just not looking forward of another year of battling with DS2's teachers over his individual development plan. Of having to work with my son and how the other kids mess with him. Just this Saturday we were at DS1's soccer try outs. One boy was playing with DS2. At one point this boy comes over, without saying a word, and provokes DS2 to chase him. Well, he leads my son out of my sight. A few minutes later the same boy comes up to me to tell me that DS2 was hitting on his car because he didn't want to play anymore. Apparently this boy leads DS2 around the building and gets right into his car where he rolls up the window and locks the door. DS2, in frustration, hits the window once and then leaves. I just ache for my son. I want him to have friends that don't tease him, that don't push his buttons to watch him react and then laugh at him. The problem we have is that he is not making friends on his own. Not like his older brother. I just don't want him to be alone in the world. Verse for today: 1 John 3:16-18, ESV By this we know love, that he laid down his life for us, and we ought to lay down our lives for the brothers. But if anyone has the world's goods and sees his brother in need, yet closes his heart against him, how does God's love abide in him? Little children, let us not love in word or talk but in deed and in truth.

Still cutting through the fog

I was able to get out of work around noon yesterday and I headed straight for bed. Depsite my love's best efforts I was still woken up three times between 1:00 and 4:00. Once DD3 came in and said, "Daddy, I really want you to wake up now." Aw... but I was sooo tired. I told her that I loved her, but I really needed to get a little more sleep. She's had friends over pretty much constantly the past three days. We have some friends who are getting ready to move back to the west coast, so while they show their house they spend a lot of time over at ours. Sort of a bitter-sweet situation. Anyway, when I did get up I worked on making dinner for the kids as my beloved and I were heading out to see "The Bourne Ultimatum". Well, this update has taken me over 30 minutes to enter... and my mind is still tired. LOL I'll 'see' you all on Monday. God bless. Verse for today: Isaiah 64:3-4, ESV When you did awesome things that we did not look for, you came down, the mountains quaked at your presence. From of old no one has heard or perceived by the ear, no eye has seen a God besides you, who acts for those who wait for him.

Ugh! Is the sun up yet?

One thing about working in the IT field... the main hours to do routine maintenance is o-dark-thirty. It was a 'simple' LAN migration, but in order to have the least amount of impact on the critical systems (the ones the most users use during the business day) we started our day at 0400 this morning. It's hard to readjust the body. LOL And the mind seems to work on a 3 second delay... A long time friend will be starting a care/small/bible-study group up this September. Unfortunately (for him) he commutes 90 minutes each way to work. I felt led to offer him support in the teaching department (so to speak), which he gratefully accepted. now I am "on the hook" so to speak. :) We will be taking turns leading the discussion/teaching - four weeks on, four weeks off. My first "rotation" will be in October. But I am not sure of what to teach yet. My first thought was about "The Pursuit and Practice of Biblical Fellowship". It would be based off of a sermon by Kenneth Maresco I recently downloaded and listened to from Covenant Life Church. Some really good stuff about how we can come alongside one another to help lift each other up, challenge each other, and encourage each other. Unless your church is the size of a few families it is difficult for the Pastor to minister to each member of the congregation. And it becomes even more difficult as the church gets larger. This is where small groups become more beneficial. When I started this entry this morning I had some really good points that I wanted to share that Kenneth brings up in his sermon... but my mind is really 'mushy' right now. The overall general point is that it that the small group really can help each of us as individuals grow. It helps me see things that I am otherwise blinded too, and it allows me the opportunity to help my fellow brothers and sisters out. All done in grace. Well, I am going to wrap this up for today... God bless... Verse for today: Proverbs 27:17-21, ESV Iron sharpens iron, and one man sharpens another. [4] Whoever tends a fig tree will eat its fruit, and he who guards his master will be honored. As in water face reflects face, so the heart of man reflects the man. Sheol and Abaddon are never satisfied, and never satisfied are the eyes of man. The crucible is for silver, and the furnace is for gold, and a man is tested by his praise.

Getting ready for the '07-'08 "busy" season

We are getting close to the time of year when the kids head back to school, so I need to prepare myself for the "busy" season once again. DD3 (she's our only daughter, but child #3) begins full day kindergarden this year. Both she and her mother are looking forward to it (supposedly). But for different reasons I'm sure. My beloved, who at one time talked about heading back to the work force as soon as possible, is now talking about getting long "overdue" projects done around the house. After school DD3 wants to do gymnastics. DS2 will be starting at a new school this year. I have mixed emotions and thoughts about this. It seems every year we struggle with his teachers and special ed aides. Every year we have to re-explain what Aspergers is, how it manifests itself in our child - even though the aides are supposed to be fully trained in it. The month to month we fight the battles with both our son and the school system. In order to help him we have him in both a 'social behavior study' and 'therapy' lessons (one is once a month, the other is once a week). DS1 is also starting a new school this year. He is growing up so fast (he's only eleven). He is only about 5 inches shorter than I am, and he's becoming so much more aware of the world around him (which is playing havoc on me and the Mrs. getting some alone time if you know what I mean). He wants to play soccer this fall, which we love for him to do. Especially since his brother and sister demand so much more attention - he is often left on the sidelines. The result is 3 kids, in 3 schools, each with their own activities. And the things listed above are in addition to the church activities. Some are required, others are not. But it is just so hard to know where to draw the line. We want each of them to have their own intrests, and friends, but we (the parents) are finite in what we can support and provide. We struggle with alone time as it is. I really dread this time of year. Well, except for football season of course. :~) Verse for today: Proverbs 24:30-34, ESV I passed by the field of a sluggard, by the vineyard of a man lacking sense, and behold, it was all overgrown with thorns; the ground was covered with nettles, and its stone wall was broken down. Then I saw and considered it; I looked and received instruction. A little sleep, a little slumber, a little folding of the hands to rest, and poverty will come upon you like a robber, and want like an armed man.

Filling in...

... my mind is running in a lot of directions today... I will have to post tomorrow... An article I came across really intrested me. Especially since I am hearing something I've thought from some one else... Here is the link to the article: "Learn from the Fall of Rome" by Jeremy Grant for the Financial Times. Verse for today: Isaiah 6:8-13, ESV And I heard the voice of the Lord saying, “Whom shall I send, and who will go for us?” Then I said, “Here am I! Send me.” 9 And he said, “Go, and say to this people: “‘Keep on hearing, [3] but do not understand; keep on seeing, [4] but do not perceive.’ Make the heart of this people dull, [5] and their ears heavy, and blind their eyes; lest they see with their eyes, and hear with their ears, and understand with their hearts, and turn and be healed.” Then I said, “How long, O Lord?” And he said: “Until cities lie waste without inhabitant, and houses without people, and the land is a desolate waste, and the Lord removes people far away, and the forsaken places are many in the midst of the land. And though a tenth remain in it, it will be burned [6] again, like a terebinth or an oak, whose stump remains when it is felled.” The holy seed [7] is its stump.

Back from Vacation

Whew, am I glad to be back from vacation! I might be able to recooperate some now that I am back to work! :~)



All week DS2 kept asking us, "why did you have to pick this week to go on vacation!" It was incredibly HOT all week! Now, I've had to deal with prolonged exposure to such heat before, but my family has not - and that was an experience. The heat index did not get peak below 105 farenheit the entire time we were in Williamsburg, VA.



Before I give too much of an incorrect picture I need to say that my family is not a 'roughing it' kind of family. Our idea of 'roughing it' means that we have to do without a small fridge and/or microwave oven in our hotel room! ;~) *** hahaha *** We had a full week none-the-less.



On Monday we hit Busch Gardens (after looking at the Weather Channel when we got there we quickly decided that this would be the coolest day of the week). It had been almost 15 years since my beloved and I had visited there, and we had a blast. The park is actually smaller than I remember it though. I think the sensation is by design though. It allows the visitor the impression of not being over crowded, and if an area is getting congested it probably encourages people to move to another 'country' (or region). One thing in particular... DS1 was a little disappointed. Although Busch has some really good rollercoasters (and he rode everyone of them), there are not as many as he's used to from Hershey Park. His favorite was The Griffon, while mine was Apollo's Chariot! (Yes, he 'dragged' me on each and every one!). The one thing we did do to help dodge the heat some was we hit two shows. The first one was at the Fest House, and the other was of the Emerald Beat in 'Ireland'.



On Tuesday we hit Water Country USA. It is reported to be the largest Water Park in the mid-atlantic, and it is huge. The Wave Pool, and the 'Hubba Hubba Highway' were the biggest hits. Especially for my beloved and me. I liked that they provided courtesty life jackets. Especially on the 'highway'. Just because it moves you along, and there is not much swimming required to do so, does not mean that you do not have to exercise to keep yourself afloat! :) And the wave pool, well you can just use your imagination. ;~) I was ready to head home by 6PM, but the family would have nothing to do with that! LOL We stayed right up until the park closed. (OH, and I had wanted to buy a hat the entire day, but my beloved asked me to wait until the end of the day... I never did get it... but it is on my 'wish list for birthday, anniversary, or Christmas... here is a quick image of what I like...









(not really sure why I posted that... lol)

Wednesday we just took a break. We stayed in our hotel and just watched movies, ate popcorn, made spagetti, that sort of thing.

Thursday we ventured down into the 'Colonial Williamsburg' area. We wanted to see some of the attractions, and learn a little more about it, but it was incredibly HOT! After only two hours, and that included a nice 30 minute tour of the Governor's Palace we were baked! We did get some nice pictures of the Court House, and some re-enactors (I'm sorry, but I've not downloaded the camera yet :~( ). We went out to lunch and then back to the pool instead.

On Friday we went back to hit specific locations, like the Blacksmith and the museum. We were surprised by how well the kids did in the museum. There was not much to do, or things to intrest them there, but they hung in there. Afterwards we headed up to Yorktown to see the decisive battle of the Revolutionary War. The National Park Service really has a nice vistor's center. I tried to do the Battlefield tour, but the kids quickly lost intrest. We ended up on one of the few tiny beach areas that 'downtown Yorktown' has.

We originally planned to come straight home Saturday, but I had wanted to go visit Jamestown the whole week and we had not made it there yet. This time the family were great sports. They let me walk over the entire 'Towne'. I was able to look at each of the areas, and read most of the information. It is incredible to read about the original 104 Men and boys who ventured from England to establish the first 'permenant' colony.

I used to think that was where the first of my Paternal relatives come into what is now the United States, but I have since learned differently. Still... I am (I believe) the 12th generation of my family since the first arrived circa 1685 - and most likely he had a stop for at least a short time in 'James Towne'.

Wow - that was a little long winded! I originally wanted to post a lot of pictures like 'Susan' does, but I am just not as diligent in getting them downloaded as she.

I did want to share one thing that I believe God is doing in my life. Lately it seems like He is encouraging me to be less transparent about my faith. Not going out and becoming a 'street preacher' (I think) or anything, but just to be more bold in sharing who I am and what I know. Another is to get back to meditating on how Holy God is. It seems that my verse for this past week has been, "Woe is me! For I am lost; for I am a man of unclean lips, and I dwell in the midst of a people of unclean lips; for my eyes have seen the King, the Lord of hosts!" (Isaiah 6:5, ESV). My heart is not quite ready, but it seems as if He is moving me in a direction.



Verse for today:
Isaiah 6:4-7, ESV
And the foundations of the thresholds shook at the voice of him who called, and the house was filled with smoke. And I said: “Woe is me! For I am lost; for I am a man of unclean lips, and I dwell in the midst of a people of unclean lips; for my eyes have seen the King, the Lord of hosts!”

Then one of the seraphim flew to me, having in his hand a burning coal that he had taken with tongs from the altar. And he touched my mouth and said: “Behold, this has touched your lips; your guilt is taken away, and your sin atoned for.”

Are there any real answers out there?

Last night I stayed up WAY too late to watch the movie Bobby (2006) with my beloved. It was an interesting movie. I liked the way it followed the various charecters, and the variety of their lives and stories. But that is not the point of my post today. :) Somewhere in the middle it struck me. When exactly did our trust in politicians and the political process really start to wain? I am not really sure a finger could be pointed at JFK or his brother - I mean not at them personally, but at what happened to them. When did it become ok to wink at indiscretions of our political leaders (and I don't really care which side of the aisle your on) and just let them go on with a smack to the back of their hands? It's not just the morals of the leaders that we now doubt (I say this in an overly generalized way), but it is the system as well. Cover ups, scandals, misrepresentation, and just a general sense of distrust between her citizens and her government seems to be simmering. The tools of the enemy of our soul is distrust, etc. and he seems to be at work within the United States. And lately the endless bicering between those who are supposed to be working together for the greater good of the people they are supposed to represent. I don't have the answers, and I still believe that President Bush really has the best interest of the United States. I believe he makes good decisions in very difficult circumstances. Even when those decisions are not the most popular. I'm sure the decision by Moses to not enter the promised land, despite the reports from Joshua and Caleb, was the popular one. But in the end they people of Isreal did not get to see the promised land. I have no idea how all this will play out in the years to come. There is a long road ahead of us as a Nation. I just pray that those who are called according to the Lord's name get on their knees to march. Because, unless the Lord is Lord of this land... I don't want to think about it. I want this country to be a proud and strong place to be for my children, and their great-grandchildren. Verse for today: 2 Chronicles 7:11-22, ESV Thus Solomon finished the house of the Lord and the king's house. All that Solomon had planned to do in the house of the Lord and in his own house he successfully accomplished. Then the Lord appeared to Solomon in the night and said to him: “I have heard your prayer and have chosen this place for myself as a house of sacrifice. When I shut up the heavens so that there is no rain, or command the locust to devour the land, or send pestilence among my people, if my people who are called by my name humble themselves, and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and heal their land. Now my eyes will be open and my ears attentive to the prayer that is made in this place. For now I have chosen and consecrated this house that my name may be there forever. My eyes and my heart will be there for all time. And as for you, if you will walk before me as David your father walked, doing according to all that I have commanded you and keeping my statutes and my rules, then I will establish your royal throne, as I covenanted with David your father, saying, ‘You shall not lack a man to rule Israel.’ “But if you [2] turn aside and forsake my statutes and my commandments that I have set before you, and go and serve other gods and worship them, then I will pluck you [3] up from my land that I have given you, and this house that I have consecrated for my name, I will cast out of my sight, and I will make it a proverb and a byword among all peoples. And at this house, which was exalted, everyone passing by will be astonished and say, ‘Why has the Lord done thus to this land and to this house?’ Then they will say, ‘Because they abandoned the Lord, the God of their fathers who brought them out of the land of Egypt and laid hold on other gods and worshiped them and served them. Therefore he has brought all this disaster on them.’”

Why do I like...

...Necromunda. Recently I was pondering the various hobbies people have within the body of Christ. We all have the common intrest of Christ and the work we do within the local church we've been called to. But many have intrests outside of the 'church' as well. Horses, Archery, Hunting, Farming, Fishing, Stamping, etc. My main hobby is Necromunda. Why? I'm not really sure. I do not get a chance to play the game all that often. I spend more time reading articles, or writing stories, and modeling various things, than actually playing the game. I wonder how much longer I will actually be intrested in it. Especially because I am not able to spend much time playing the game... Verse for today: Jude 1:17-23, ESV But you must remember, beloved, the predictions of the apostles of our Lord Jesus Christ. They [6] said to you, “In the last time there will be scoffers, following their own ungodly passions.” It is these who cause divisions, worldly people, devoid of the Spirit. But you, beloved, building yourselves up in your most holy faith and praying in the Holy Spirit, keep yourselves in the love of God, waiting for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ that leads to eternal life. And have mercy on those who doubt; save others by snatching them out of the fire; to others show mercy with fear, hating even the garment [7] stained by the flesh.