20080731

Why do I get so many butterflies?

I cannot go into any real detail yet, but I am nervous. Please pray for me. There is no need to be nervous, and yet I am. Why? Because I am looking to make a change in my life. More to follow - some day. ;-) Verse for today: Psalm 37 : 7-9, ESV Be still before the Lord and wait patiently for him; fret not yourself over the one who prospers in his way, over the man who carries out evil devices!

Refrain from anger, and forsake wrath! Fret not yourself; it tends only to evil. For the evildoers shall be cut off, but those who wait for the Lord shall inherit the land.

20080730

Wordless Wednesday

Some of my blogging friends use pictures for today... for me it's just that I am pretty beat down today. Very, very tired - so I will add a picture today and wish you all a great Wednesday! By Mr. Kunstler: - When I finally decided to paint the Battle of New Market, I knew I wanted to incorporate a number of important visual elements into the painting. They included a terrible thunder storm, the VMI students participating in a valiant fashion, and a former Vice President of the United States as commanding General for the Confederates. On visiting the Battlefield, I went step by step through the battle with Director Ed Merrill and Curator Keith Gibson. I was struck by the charm and beauty of the Bushong House on the Battlefield. If I came in close on the students near the house, they would simply be marching in parade ground precision past the building and I knew this would not make an interesting picture. However, in wandering around the Battlefield where General John C. Breckenridge had his command post, I realized I could do it all - show Breckenridge, show an artillery battery in action near the command position, utilize the lightning as a light source, show the students and feature the Bushong House in this one painting. I was sure this was the solution to the problem of how to say "New Market" to the viewer in a dramatic and interesting way. With the torrential downpour, the main effect I was after was wetness. The rain would have washed the mud off men and horses as fast as they were being covered with it. I had also never seen a painting of anyone with the rubberized blankets in use at the time and decided to put one on General Breckenridge. I find the difficulties of fighting a battle under these circumstances truly amazing. Imagine trying to keep track of the enemy, keep your powder dry and your weapons in working order, and control your horse with the lightning, thunder and gunfire. These were some of the things I tried to capture in Thunder in the Valley. I hope I have succeeded. Verse for today: Revelation 19 : 6-10, ESV Then I heard what seemed to be the voice of a great multitude, like the roar of many waters and like the sound of mighty peals of thunder, crying out,

“Hallelujah! For the Lord our God the Almighty reigns. Let us rejoice and exult and give him the glory, for the marriage of the Lamb has come, and his Bride has made herself ready; it was granted her to clothe herself with fine linen, bright and pure”—

for the fine linen is the righteous deeds of the saints.

And the angel said [2] to me, “Write this: Blessed are those who are invited to the marriage supper of the Lamb.” And he said to me, “These are the true words of God.” Then I fell down at his feet to worship him, but he said to me, “You must not do that! I am a fellow servant [3] with you and your brothers who hold to the testimony of Jesus. Worship God.” For the testimony of Jesus is the spirit of prophecy.

20080729

Not Exactly 'Revelation' type stuff but...

Over the weekend, while I was out enjoying time with my family at an unusually slow pace, I found out that a sequel to a game that I really liked was coming out. Despite my real lack of time to get too deep in any one game I went ahead and put a deposit for both the game and the strategy guide. Before I make the "big reveal" I wanted to ponder the similarities in interests I seem to have. Fair reader, perhaps you can help me figure out why? If not, maybe you will enjoy similar things... Way back in High School I had a tradition of spending New Years Eve with a friend of mine nicknamed 'Tynie". We were both social misfits in our school so we enjoyed each other's company. One year we watched "Damnation Alley" as one of many movies we watched. I remember this movie in particular because while we were watching it my foot brushed an orange peel on the floor while we were watching the "Salt Lake City" scene, and I vaulted over the ottoman I was leaning against and landed on the coach behind it. LOL But these were the years when I was really getting into movies. Other movies I really got into where "Mad Max" and "The Road Warrior". What I did not realize was that it was becoming a defining moments, and a trend in my likes and dislikes of genres. But the movie I 'loved' the most was "The Terminator". I remember my friends and I walking over six miles each way, in the summer heat to go and watch this movie. I was captivated by the future scenes of John Connor running through the post apocalyptic wastes of some city in the future. Dodging evil robots, and trying to defend what was left of human civilization. Even back then I remember wanting a 'Terminator' movie set in the future, and it looks like my hope of such a thing will finally come to be realized next May. "Terminator: Salvation", starring Christian Bale, will finally hit the theaters next year. I doubt it will be as good as I want it to be, but I will watch it nonetheless. Both the 'teaser' and the first promotional trailer can be found at IMDB. Of the three movies that have been released so far, "Rise of the Machines" (3) is my favorite. Last year's Fox's "The Sarah Connor Chronicles" was an awesome (IMO) series and I am really looking forward to the upcoming season. So far I've not established a pattern so much as just an affinity for certain style of movie so I shall move on. Starting in my High School years I also got into a table top war game called "Warhammer 40,000". By this time in my life I was getting bored with Dungeons & Dragons and I had recently joined the Army National Guard. Having been exposed to several other Bookshelf games (i.e. Tactics II, Napoleon, Air War, and Squad Leader), I liked the idea of having a three dimensional representation with the pieces. But what really caught my eye was when a 'rule set' for a game called 'Confrontation' came out circa 1990. This game eventually became 'Necromunda'. This game is a 'squad level' skirmish game set in a future world where cities have grown into the skies and are now called 'hives'. Where the game takes place is in the 'lawless zones' of the 'underhive' where things are not kept up and decay is the rule in regards to resources. When a supplemental rule article came out for the "Ash Wastes" it immediately caught my eye. The "Wastes" in this 'world' are a place where millennium upon millennium of industrial waste has ruined and made toxic the entire planet surface not covered by the massive hive-cities. Yet there are those who carve out a living outside the walls. These are the backdrops of my short stories (both inside, and out of the cities). I was interested enough to help proof read, and write some specific stories, for a rewrite of the 'Ash Wastes' rules supplement about a year or so back. My interests in this area is not limited to movies and board/tabletop games. On my recent vacation I had run out of reading material so I was perusing one of the overpriced bookstores in the Dallas airport and came across a book in a series by William Johnstone (the title escapes me right now). But there are about a dozen or so books - all based on a post-apocalyptic America. I have read only three chapters and I have put it down because I want to start the series from the beginning! I'm not sure how much I will really like, but it's caught my attention. So, finally back to my original comment about this game I want to get - even though I do not have all that much time to actually play it... The game is called Fallout 3 (the video above is the promotional deal from the company). I got hooked on the first one in the series back when I was on active duty. It was already an old game then, but I ate it up anyway. I also picked up the second in the series, but I never finished it. Now I hear that there is yet another Fallout game that is a turn based tactical game as well. I will probably go ahead and get the game, even though it will probably take me years to finish it. What prompted this blog entry today is I realized yesterday this 'theme', if you will, of my interest in movies, books, games, etc. I wonder if there is an underlying reason. I mean, I was even drawn to the part in "Mere Christianity" where the 'hero' is seeing a writers vision of what hell might be like. I don't have delusions of grandeur that I would somehow survive such events, let alone be some kind of hero in such a setting. Quite the opposite. I'm pretty sure I'd be killed off pretty quick. Why is it that I am drawn to such a genre. I am not repulsed by my interests... just interested in my interest. If that makes sense. Other movies that I like, "The Postman", and "Blast From the Past". There was a lot more that came to mind while I was typing this up, but I couldn't keep it all straight. Besides, I think I've gotten across what I was thinking. Verse for today: Revelation 6 : 12-17, ESV When he opened the sixth seal, I looked, and behold, there was a great earthquake, and the sun became black as sackcloth, the full moon became like blood, and the stars of the sky fell to the earth as the fig tree sheds its winter fruit when shaken by a gale. The sky vanished like a scroll that is being rolled up, and every mountain and island was removed from its place. Then the kings of the earth and the great ones and the generals and the rich and the powerful, and everyone, slave [5] and free, hid themselves in the caves and among the rocks of the mountains, calling to the mountains and rocks, “Fall on us and hide us from the face of him who is seated on the throne, and from the wrath of the Lamb, for the great day of their wrath has come, and who can stand?”

20080728

Music Monday - 20080728

I need to apologize up front today. I do not have a particular song to add today, but I do want to gush a little about my new MP3 player (a retirement present to myself). Now I am by no means a cutting-edge-technology kind of guy when it comes to these kinds of things, so I bought a 2GB Samsung K3.I am a basic black kind of guys so that is the color I got. After shopping around I found a sale at a Best Buy - who beat out even Walmart! So far I love this little player. It was easy to set up, but because I had some "brain cramps" I spent a couple of hours loading, deleting, reloading both software and songs. This thing is supposed to hold about 500 songs, but after dumping all of my Praise and Worship music, plus the dozen or so sermons that I haven't listened to yet, I've only used about 28% of the storage capacity! LOL I still have other CD's I want to load into it, but I am beginning to think that I will not fill it up. Not anytime soon anyway. :-) I wanted to get a portable MP3 player because, 1) I wanted to move into the 21st century, 2) I am actually looking into going to a gym (I really want to lose between 20-30 pounds), 3) I like the idea of having something so small carry so much music! I know that's kind of lame for a Music Monday, but I hope you all find time to lift up your voices in praise to our Lord and Savior some time today - because He is worth it! Verse for today: Psalm 71 : 22-23, ESV I will also praise you with the harp for your faithfulness, O my God; I will sing praises to you with the lyre, O Holy One of Israel. My lips will shout for joy, when I sing praises to you; my soul also, which you have redeemed.

20080725

I got nothing important to say today

Ok, I have no idea what to write about today. I was going to do a review of the movie 'Good Soil' (picture and link on the right bar), but I wanted to watch it one more time and take some notes first - and with VBS this week - that didn't happen, so... I guess I will just talk about my flair. While I was growing up I loved Grover and Cookie Monster from Sesame Street, and I saw this piece of flair while I was just browsing looking for some thing to send to other Facebook friends. I almost had Dr Pepper coming out my nose when I saw this one! So of course it is now in my 'collection'. Anyone who has had to call a help desk about some web page that you are having to access, but can't, I am sure has had to delete the 'cookies' from the web browser. :) Currently I have 44 pieces of flair on Facebook. I won't share them all here, but these are some of my favorites... The piece here on the right was one I picked out for myself. I felt that it captured the passion I have for my beloved. I know that might sound weird, but hey... if I was perfectly normal would I be blogging about mundane things, and collecting flair on Facebook, and then blogging about it? ;-) When growing up 'Wolverine' was one of my all time favorite comic book heros. I felt like I could relate to him - anger issues, doesn't really know his past or where he's going, and I really wanted to be a kick @$% kind of guy (that never happened, but hey). Well, my beloved has gorgeous red hair, which I love. I saw this button and added it immediately. This piece of flair was added (by me) because I really like Jethro Tull's music. As I have matured as a Christian I have become more... selective... in the pieces I listen to regularly from this band, but I love the flute being incorporated into their music. Their Album, "A", had a lot of more classical instruments. I especially remember a synthesized violin in one of the videos. I have no idea if it was real, but it sounded terrific. The very first piece of flair I ever had was a gift from one of my Facebook friends - it is also what got me hooked on that App! She sent it to me as an encouragement because I like to write (blog, and short stories). Besides, who doesn't like Snoopy writing about a "...dark and stormy night..."? :-) The same friend sent this piece... it's a little fuzzy so in case anyone else has eyes like mine it says, "you're a great friend but if the zombies chase us I'm tripping you"! LOL Wow... at least I know where I stand with her. I'm just glad there are no such things as zombies. ;-) I hope 8/ I love the Carolina Panthers Blue "alternate" jerseys. When a good friend's wife, who is also a football fan (Washington Redskins, but she's nice so...), sent this to me it went up on my flair board immediately. My recurring birthday and Christmas gift request is one of the custom jerseys in Carolina Blue with John Kasay's number and name on it. Over time I have received a couple of Autism buttons. I picked this one because it was from a friend who has not been directly affected by Autism, but has been a good friend and supporter. It has been frustrating, and rewarding, trying to be there for my son (DS2). Just this week one of the VBS volunteers asked, "is there something wrong with him". :-( 'No, he just processes things differently than you do' is what I thought. I don't do well in crowds (not even NFL stadiums), especially loud noisy situations, but I try and volunteer with his classes at church because I know that one of us (his parents) needs to be as close as possible to help him. This piece was sent to me by a friend who we've known since my beloved was in college. We have a lot in common... be both enjoy Petra, we both have children with Autism, we both love American football, etc. He had seen me add a Thomas J. Jackson button and sent this to me. This young man, along with the husband of the Panthers button giver above, and I all have a desire to learn more about the Civil War. We are planning on a week(end) getaway up to Gettysburg for just us guys - some day. All we need now is the money saved up. :) Ok, the last one I am going to share with you all today - before I totally bore you all and lose you - is another one that I added for my own enjoyment. One of the call signs I had for a time during my twenty two years of National Guard service was "Thunder". I have always LOVED thunderstorms. There is something about the coolness of it, the refreshing nature of the rain, the rumble of thunder, and the impressive display of power in the lightning. There are times when I feel so close to God that I could almost 'touch' him - and it is almost always in the midst of a Thunderstorm. If I was to ever come across a large some of money for a painting it would be one of such a thing. Verse for today: Mark 4 : 37-41, ESV And a great windstorm arose, and the waves were breaking into the boat, so that the boat was already filling. But he was in the stern, asleep on the cushion. And they woke him and said to him, “Teacher, do you not care that we are perishing?” And he awoke and rebuked the wind and said to the sea, “Peace! Be still!” And the wind ceased, and there was a great calm. He said to them, “Why are you so afraid? Have you still no faith?” And they were filled with great fear and said to one another, “Who then is this, that even the wind and the sea obey him?”

20080724

Caleb Cambell

Ok, I need to say this. I am disappointed with the United States Army over what they did to Caleb Campbell. I totally understand, and I get it. It's just that he was a day away from starting a career in the NFL - and there weren't even any guarantees that he would have made the team. He was going to have to prove himself no matter what. I was just rooting for the kid to make it to the big leagues. I am impressed with how this young man has been conducting himself though. He has always said that no matter how the Army went on this, he would honor his commitment - and he has done so without trying to play it out through the media. I will pray for him, and who knows. Maybe in a few years he will be back at the Lions training camp. Maybe a little more wiser, maybe still in shape. If that is the case I will be praying and rooting for him to make the team. Now on to other ramblings... When I retired, my unit presented me with a really nice memento. It was the guidon we used at AT this year, all framed up. Very, very nice. There are two other soldiers who are retiring at the same time (within +/- 30 days of me) and I asked the commander if anything had been done for them. Apparently nothing had... :-( I have found the Minute Man statue pictured to the right. I want to order this for them, but I can't do it out of pocket all on my own - so I am waiting on if the unit can help, and for guidance on what to have engraved. I think it would be really nice. Well, I am still kind of fried from VBS going on this week at church so I am going to wrap this up. May God richly bless all who happen upon this humble blog. Verse for today: Proverbs 24 : 3-6, ESV By wisdom a house is built, and by understanding it is established; by knowledge the rooms are filled with all precious and pleasant riches. A wise man is full of strength, and a man of knowledge enhances his might, for by wise guidance you can wage your war, and in abundance of counselors there is victory.

20080722

Ten Lepers and VBS

On the way to Jerusalem he was passing along between Samaria and Galilee. And as he entered a village, he was met by ten lepers, [6] who stood at a distance and lifted up their voices, saying, “Jesus, Master, have mercy on us.” When he saw them he said to them, “Go and show yourselves to the priests.” And as they went they were cleansed. Then one of them, when he saw that he was healed, turned back, praising God with a loud voice; and he fell on his face at Jesus' feet, giving him thanks. Now he was a Samaritan. Then Jesus answered, “Were not ten cleansed? Where are the nine? Was no one found to return and give praise to God except this foreigner?” And he said to him, “Rise and go your way; your faith has made you well.” [7] (Luke 17 : 11-19, esv)
Last night was the second night of VBS (vacation bible school) at out church. Before I get too much into my subject I want to be up front. I am not a big fan of our current methodology. We are pushing for more and more kids, with 'incentives' if a certain number show up on any given night. We then have two and a half hours in order to get through: 'Opening ceremonies' and drama presentation, crafts, recreation, snack, instruction, and music. This gives us about twenty five minutes for each section per night. It feels more about the quantity of people and 'things' than it is about teaching these kids about Jesus and His gospel. My beloved heads up the preschool ministry at our church so she is hoping. She makes sure all four of the classes of preschoolers have what they need. and are taken care of. With DS2 having Aspergers I am an assistant teacher for the 4th grade group (when he moves on to 5th I will follow along with him). DS1 is almost too old, but I am very, very grateful that the church has expanded VBS to include the 6th grade and beyond (to about 8th I think). DD3 is upset with me this week because I am never (emphasis hers) with her. As a result we are probably not going to be home before 9:00PM any night this week. Then getting them down, etc. I am not getting to bed before 11:00, and not asleep before 12:00 midnight. With the little sleep I got this past weekend, I am hurting pretty bad right now - so my mind may not be all that... 'crisp'. Ok, enough background... this is one of the stories from Jesus' time of ministry that really affected me when I was a young Christian. Now, I am no expert on leprosy, or even the what the world was like in and around 0 - 30 A.D. But I do know a little about thankfulness, and the differences in social standings. Ten men who are the absolute bottom of the social ladder in their day (straw dogs would be more welcome), who were suffering physically, mentally, and spiritually called out to a man whom they heard could do miracles. This was a man (Jesus) who was traveling with what is essentially an entourage, and yet he stopped and talked (and, more importantly, healed!) them. The part that really grabbed my thoughts was not necessarily the healing because this was something that Jesus had done in other places, but it was the response of the men. I can only assume they went on their way and at least rejoiced with their families and friends. Perhaps most, if not all, of them did do as Jesus told them. But only one man realized who he should give the praise and thanks to. And the man was not even an Israelite. Throughout the gospels there are instances of gentiles recognizing Jesus' authority. The Centurion, several Samaratins. The most telling passages are when Jesus says, "I was sent only to the lost sheep of the house of Israel." (Matthew 15 : 24, esv ). How eye opening is that! It's not that He did not come for the rest of us 'Gentiles', but that His ministry was focused on Israel first, and then His disciples would be sent out to the rest of the world later. To me this just heightens the awareness of the privilege of knowing Jesus as my Lord and Savior. And the great need to acknowledge what He has done in my life. Verse for today: John 3 : 16-21, ESV “For God so loved the world, [9] that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him. Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the only Son of God. And this is the judgment: the light has come into the world, and people loved the darkness rather than the light because their works were evil. For everyone who does wicked things hates the light and does not come to the light, lest his works should be exposed. But whoever does what is true comes to the light, so that it may be clearly seen that his works have been carried out in God.”

20080721

Music Monday - 20080721

Wow, I think it's been almost a month since my last "Music Monday" post. :-( Well, here is my entry for today:
Praise You In This Storm Written by Mark Hall / Music by Mark Hall and Bernie Herms I was sure by now God, You would have reached down And wiped our tears away Stepped in and saved the day But once again, I say "Amen", and it's still raining As the thunder rolls I barely hear You whisper through the rain "I'm with You" And as Your mercy falls I raise my hands and praise the God who gives And takes away CHORUS I'll praise You in this storm And I will lift my hands For You are who You are No matter where I am Every tear I've cried You hold in Your hand You never left my side And though my heart is torn I will praise You in this storm I remember when I stumbled in the wind You heard my cry You raised me up again My strength is almost gone How can I carry on If I can't find You As the thunder rolls I barely hear You whisper through the rain "I'm with You" And as Your mercy falls I raise my hands and praise the God who gives And takes away CHORUS I lift my eyes unto the hills Where does my help come from? My help comes from the Lord The Maker of Heaven and Earth (repeat) CHORUS Though my heart is torn I will praise You in this storm 2005 Club Zoo Music (BMI) / SWECS Music (BMI) (adm. by EMI CMG Publishing) / Word Music, LLC (ASCAP) / Banahama Tunes (ASCAP) (adm. by Word Music, LLC)
I have lost count how many times I have failed to do this. Although I have been getting better at this... I think. I am not really in the middle of a storm - per se - but yesterday I was beginning to question just how much I have filled my life with "noise". So much so that I wonder if I am hearing His voice any more. At least lately. Verse for today: Revelation 21 : 3-8, ESV And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, “Behold, the dwelling place [1] of God is with man. He will dwell with them, and they will be his people, [2] and God himself will be with them as their God. [3] He will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and death shall be no more, neither shall there be mourning, nor crying, nor pain anymore, for the former things have passed away.”

And he who was seated on the throne said, “Behold, I am making all things new.” Also he said, “Write this down, for these words are trustworthy and true.” And he said to me, “It is done! I am the Alpha and the Omega, the beginning and the end. To the thirsty I will give from the spring of the water of life without payment. The one who conquers will have this heritage, and I will be his God and he will be my son But as for the cowardly, the faithless, the detestable, as for murderers, the sexually immoral, sorcerers, idolaters, and all liars, their portion will be in the lake that burns with fire and sulfur, which is the second death.”

20080718

It is finally official - and other misc. ramblings

Yesterday I received (although it was e-mailed out last week) my official orders transferring me to the "Retired Ready Reserve". I am officially a full time civilian again! \o/ Twenty Two years seems like a long time, I feel too young to be retired from anything, and too be honest - if my priorities were not as they are, I would not have retired. I am not going to miss the extra time away in the short term... but in a year from now... I am not so sure. One thing I do know is that there is no going back. If anyone who reads this is thinking about 20 years in the National Guard (I cannot speak for the other reserves, but I believe things are similar for them), even with things as they are now - it will not be like this all the time, the benefits in retirement will be worth the time invested - IMO. I will have a health insurance policy that is cheaper, and better than my current policy through my full time employer, I will have a small paycheck, and I will have access to essentially an "exclusive" club that I can arrange vacations, etc. through. Sort of like what some companies, neighborhoods, and universities already do. Unfortunately most of that does not kick in until I am 60. I am just glad it will be there when I get there, but just in case I set it up that if something should happen to me before then my beloved will begin to draw it immediately. While we were away on our vacation the movie "Good Soil" arrived from R.A.G.E. media. With a slightly confused look on my beloved's face I explained what it was about. She shrugged her shoulders and smirked. Women, they never understand us men! ;-) I have watched it twice since we got home late Tuesday night! A very well done picture IMO. I hope to post a review of it here soon. My outline for my book is pretty much done in hard copy form. I have notes spread throughout an old "leader's book" I have left over from the Guard. I have six characters in a rough outline form. What I am kind of working on now is the 'motivations', if you will, of how they all interact. Not all are main characters, but I am pretty sure I will need a few more support cast. I've never done this before, but I am interested in how far I will actually take this project. Verse for today: Proverbs 18 : 1-4, ESV Whoever isolates himself seeks his own desire; he breaks out against all sound judgment. A fool takes no pleasure in understanding, but only in expressing his opinion. When wickedness comes, contempt comes also, and with dishonor comes disgrace. The words of a man's mouth are deep waters; the fountain of wisdom is a bubbling brook.

20080717

Vacation's all I ever wanted...

Well, not really. I do enjoy my work - mostly, still, it's nice to get away from the routine and just do something different. We spent a week visiting friends and family in the Dallas, TX area. It is never an entirely stress free vacation visiting with family (why is that?), at least for us. We saw our first ever rodeo, pretty interesting. Not my cup of tea, but it was something I had never done before. My beloved had a good time just doing some people watching. :) I LOVE the architecture of the homes in the Northern Dallas area. Maybe it's just because of the homes I have seen through my Beloved's family out there, but I really like how the walls are done (Spackle & Drag - I think that's what it's called). It has a textured look to it, not just flat, and the corners are rounded. Very nice. I also really like the hand scraped flooring. It is essentially a wooden flooring that is smooth when first put down, but then is literally scraped and has a more rough (but with out the splinters and sharp edges) texture to it. If I could afford it I would level my current house and have contractors build one just them here. One thing I don't like are the postage stamp sized yards. My old townhouse had a larger lot... granted I had an end unit, but still. Another interesting sporting event happened while I was there. A man named Josh Hamilton really caught my attention. He is currently a member of the Texas Rangers, but has a God glorifying history. He was a first round draft choice, had a fairly decent career in Baseball, and then he threw it all away for drugs. He was out of Baseball for a couple of years, and then God arrested his heart and mind. He cleaned up, and with God's grace, has made it back to the big leagues. My sister-in-law, and her family saw him play at least one game this year (I believe) as a Frisco Roughrider (the AA farm team for the Rangers). Now, I am not much of a Baseball fan, but watching him hit 28 home runs in the Home Run Derby was something. I was also inspired to hear this young man give the glory to Christ when he was interviewed after. I might become a sudo-Texas Rangers fan now. I had more that I wanted to write about, but... I am failing to remember now. I guess that's the danger of blogging 'live' instead of writing it out and then pasting it in. Especially when it is taking me a couple of hours to get it all typed out. :) Verse for today: Psalm 86 : 11-13, ESV Teach me your way, O Lord, that I may walk in your truth; unite my heart to fear your name. I give thanks to you, O Lord my God, with my whole heart, and I will glorify your name forever. For great is your steadfast love toward me; you have delivered my soul from the depths of Sheol.

Crashing back to Earth

Well, my last two week annual training is in the books, and I am back to work after an almost two week vacation, so my mind is working overtime to catch up with everything... LOL I hope to have an entry later today... :) I pray that this will find you all well and enjoying God's grace

20080707

I'm leaving on a Jet plane, don't know when I'll be back again...

... ok, that last part is not true. I know exactly when I am coming home but it helped the post title flow better. :) This past weekend was a blur. I spent Friday with my family and four other families at Hershey Park. That was a lot of fun, but I am finding out that I am not as capable of handling the roller coasters as I would like to think! I did ride the new Fahrenheit. What a rush! Saturday I spent at Antietam helping with the park's Fourth of July celebration. Another good time, albeit a wet one. Yesterday the party I had hoped to welcome home all of my fellow soldiers who had been deployed from my unit turned out to be a bust. Only 5 of them showed up. :( Oh well. The thing I am most excited about is I learned of a DVD that is a short movie about a Christian Samurai. The title is "Good Soil", and stars Shin Koyamada - who also was in "The Last Samurai" (Nabutada).The only thing I am bummed about is that it is only 22 minutes long. For all of those who are interested in the Christian Samurai and would like to see a DVD such as this please order a copy today! To be totally up front, if you order through either the link here, or by clicking on the image on the right, I do receive a slight commission. The same is true of the book, "The Way of the Christian Samurai" by Paul Nowak. Well, I have to run for today. May God watch over each and everyone of you till I get back to blogging again. :)

20080703

Why ask questions when you don't want to know the answer?

I know why Cable/Satellite TV do this, but I still get sucked into it. Lately Spike TV has been playing the six Star Wars movies over, and over, and over, and over... well, you get the idea. My beloved and I grew up loving those "first" three movies. We've even played "one upsies" on who had seen them the most (I won ;-) ). Well, last night Episode III - Revenge of the Sith was playing (followed by Ep. IV). I don't know why, but I have come to realize that this is my favorite episode of the series. I mean, how can the Jedi be confused about what Vader (Aka Anakin Skywalker) does? The prophecy stated that he would bring balance to the force... at the time, the Sith had not been seen in what? A thousand years? Meanwhile the Jedi have this huge building right smack dab in the heart of Coruscant! Granted, by the time episodes I-III hit the theaters I already know about IV-VI. I think I like it because it lays so bare the true nature of man. I don't think this is George Lucas' intention but if you think about it you will see what I mean. Anakin's whole aim is to protect his love. Since he 'failed' his mother, he sets out to protect and save his wife. But in the end he is so drawn to power that he turns. One line sticks out in my mind as I write this. "From my point of view the Jedi are evil." Wow. In the end how are we to determine what is right and wrong? As a Christian I know it is by God's Word. He is the only way we can know what is true and just, because He is the only perfect judge. In closing I just wanted to mention two unrelated things. The first one is, my beloved wanted me to trim up the boys hair. She wanted me to do this last week but I let it slide until last night. Well, I butchered the sides. It's not too bad, but they look like whitewalls on a woolly mammoth. LOL. The other is, I am in a desperate search for an old regimental crest. I am working on my "retirement walking stick" that I started at AT. I am almost finished with the surface, but I want to put branch insignia on one side, and on the other the corresponding regimental crests of the units I had belonged to over the years. I have been digging through my twenty two years of misc. junk. I have found two of the three, and the one I was sure I still had... I can't find. I've already written three letters with no replies. If anyone who stumbles across this little blog knows where I can find a crest (pictured above/left) please click on my profile and send me an e-mail. Verse for today: Proverbs 3 : 9-12, ESV Honor the Lord with your wealth and with the firstfruits of all your produce; then your barns will be filled with plenty, and your vats will be bursting with wine.

My son, do not despise the Lord's discipline or be weary of his reproof, for the Lord reproves him whom he loves, as a father the son in whom he delights.

20080702

Trying to figure out what to write about

I have no idea what to write about today... I've noticed that I am allowing myself to get distracted more easily lately. I am pretty sure I struggle with ADD so it's not all that hard to do. Still, I also struggle with the mentality that if I just try hard enough I can over come it. Unfortunately this has not proven to be the case. I have a lot of projects I want to do. I want to get a deck started for my beloved (she's been patient for nine years), I've started a story line with the goal of writing a paperback size transcript - even if it never gets published, there are several repairs/projects that I need to get done around the house, not to mention I need to really work on certifications for my job - and book learning is not my forte, I even want to start studying Aikido. See, I even got distracted while trying to get this entry in! LOL. I guess I am getting a little distracted by coming up on the end of my (reserve) military career, and the 4th of July. So many things to occupy my mind... oh look, a shinny penny! 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.

20080701

Random thoughts

This morning I awoke a little earlier than usual due to a bizarre dream. I was dreaming that my work computer had some kind of weird music playing that I could not possibly turn off. Near the end of the dream a co-worker (I think) was showing me some kind of prized possession, but it was only a pair of plastic dagger like things (with the dull flat edges and everything). For some reason this disturbed me enough to wake me up. I thought about it some and decided I needed to back off from a few things. Not sure how I came to a direct link there, but... anyway. Facebook is going to take a little hit though. ;) As I lay there praying I decided to pick up and read Matthew 7 (I am slowly reading through the New Testament, one chapter at a time). Matthew 7 starts off with a set of verses that is popularly quoted when someone (usually a Christian) is trying to tell someone "it's none of your business".
"Judge not, that be not judged." (Matthew 7:1, ESV)
A lot of people use this verse to say that they feel that it is not for us to reveal what is perceived as sin in others. But the verse does not stop there. Judging, and trying to help another person deal with sin are two entirely different things. God's Word does a pretty good job when it defines sin (I like to review Exodus 20:1-17 personally... pretty much anything you can think of can be weighed against these verse to see if it is a good thing or not... the trick is to check your own heart honestly). The key is to honestly investigate yourself (taking the log out of your own eye), and then helping your brother with his "speck". Note: our issues are always larger than our brothers. The whole chapter is something that is excellent to study and just "chew" on. Verse for today: 2 Timothy 3 : 16-17, ESV All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, that the man of God [2] may be competent, equipped for every good work.