Being Thankful, Day #15

Today i am going to share about my thankfulness for the Christmas holiday season.  I believe the 'official' start of the holiday is when the 1st little flap of the Advent Calendar is opened, i could be mistaken as that is most likely a religious structural tradition.  But, even that 'line' is beginning to gray, at least in America (mostly because i am not aware of what the following is like in other countries this time of year).  You see, in early October retail stores began to bring out the trimmings, and the advertisements began to hint at the forthcoming blitz.  For me, this aspect - the greed (for lack of a better word coming to mind), is a downer.  It makes it look like a time of spending and getting, and not one of giving and/or gracious receiving - which, in my point of view, is what the holiday is truly about.

When i grew up from the magical time of childhood, i understood that Jesus was not born on the 25th of December.  After some on-line research, etc. it would appear the likeliest candidate would be during the Feast of Tabernacles, which is generally celebrated late September/early-mid October.  Since i have always seemed to begin to get excited about the Christmas season, even with the dulling of my festive spirit with Halloween, about this time - with it really picking up on 1-November - seems about right to me now.

For me, i can honestly say, the 'magic' has always been about the celebration of the birth of Christ.  Even before i was a Christian i remember the wonder of a child coming to earth purported to be the Savior of all mankind.  Of angels that sang to shepherds... of a young mother who could not find even the most basic of human accommodations.  The songs 'Silent Night' & 'Oh Holy Night' stirred something deep within me, it honestly moved me to tears - and this for a boy who did not cry when his grandmothers or mother passed away, or even when a cousin was murdered.

Think about the implications... first it is accepted that Jesus Christ was actually born in to this world, that He was a teacher within the Jewish community of His day, that He was nailed to a crucifix in execution by the Romans are all historically accepted facts.  Then, when you read His words that have been faithfully transcribed with a greater than 97.5% accuracy across all ancient examples of those who witnessed His life - with some of the earliest examples being dated to within less than a single generation of his recorded death, then one must conclude that He was either certifiable, or an amazing prophet.  Then, when His life is looked at in comparison to the Old Testament and all the things it portended - astounding.  It is up to each of us to accept, or reject Christ.  While He is the One who reveals Himself to each of us, we will be taken in to account for our own actions, our own acceptance or rejection of what He did throughout His life.

Well, i have digressed from where i was originally going with this post, but, i am thankful for Christmas, and all that it means to me as a Christian.

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Random Dozen - 20101020 - the late edition

Poor Linda over at 2nd Cup of Coffee has some real life interference while trying to get her weekly meme offering ready.  Fortunately Mocha with Linda stepped in to help out.  \o/ Yeah!  Although i am a little late in getting this published, here is my weekly addition to the Random Dozen.

1. Do you prefer to read the book or see the movie? ~ Mostly, i prefer the movie.  Not because i don't want to read, but because i am a slow reader and my life is in a phase right now where it is hard to sit still for more than 15 minutes and really be able to just enjoy the time reading.  Why?  Because when i do sit down, and get all engrossed in a book (which i almost always do), i have a very hard time putting it down and getting back to real life things... like MouseHunt. 

2. What is your favorite holiday and why? ~ Christmas by a wide margin.  Even at a young age, before i accepted Christ, i knew the holiday was more than a time to get gifts.  For me it is truly a magical time of year.  A sense of awe comes over me.  Now that i am a Christian to meditate all that this celebration portents is something i don't think i can come close to fully expound on.  I know that the date which we currently celebrate Christmas is a "borrowed" date from Pagan mythology, it is not the date or time of year that is important to me, but the Celebration of God become man, His condescension to come down to the Earth and live the life He did, and His ultimate end... to die for me, and all who come to Him, on the cross.

3. Which do you like better - the mountains or the beach? ~ That is really hard to choose.  I absolutely love living in sight of the Blueridge Mountains, but my Beloved and i love going to the beach - especially in the off season.  The smell in the air, and the sound of the waves... very nice.  Both have their detractors, and both have their enjoyments... i can't choose... but if i must... the mountains by the slimmest of margins.

4. If money were no consideration, what vehicle would you drive? ~ A DeLorian.  I have no idea why other than i like the look of it.  From what i understand it was never a top of the line sports car, and there were other issues with the car as a whole, but i wouldn't mind having this car in my garage.

5. What is your favorite cold-weather beverage? ~ I really enjoy hot chocolate.  Especially when it is made with milk instead of water.  I can leave those tiny marshmallows though.  Those things are annoying to me.

6. How do you communicate most often with your friends: phone, email, text, face-to-face, or Facebook? ~ It is sad to say, but facebook has been a revolution to me.  It has really enabled me to reach out to friends who have moved away, or even who's life are as busy as mine is.  If not for facebook, i am not sure how i would be able to keep up with my friends.

7. How do you receive your mail? Mailbox on the porch, at the end of the driveway, down the street, or post office box? ~ Our mailbox is at the end of the driveway.  Fortunately the drive is not all that long.

8. Of the four basic personality types - sanguine, phlegmatic, melancholic, and choleric - which is your strongest? Which is your least evident? ~ After review, and a confirmation request, i would say my strongest personality type is Melancholic, while the least evident is Sanguine.  Based off of the definitions listed below (as copied from Linda's page).  Although... the latter is not by a wide margin.

9. What do you miss the most about being 20? ~ Being able to roll out of bed and take an APFT and pass it. I also really enjoyed that time in the National Guard.  How does that saying go?  Being full of P__s and vinegar?  My nickname in the Guard back then was "High speed, low drag".

10. How long from the time you get up, does it take you to get ready to walk out the door in the morning? ~ I can do it in five minutes if i have to, with a little prior planning that is.  However, to do it properly, it will usually take me twenty minutes.

11. Who handles the car maintenance and pays the bills in your family? ~ I am "in charge" of making sure the cars are maintained.  Oil changed, inspection when needed, repairs, rotate tires, etc.  However, my Beloved tracks and handles the bulk of the bill paying.  To be honest, i was not always on top of things as i needed to be.

12. For those in the US, how many states have you visited? For those outside the US, how many provinces/other countries have you visited? ~ I have at least spent the night in twenty states, which actually surprised me (MA, CT, NY, PA, MD, VA, WV, NC, GA, FL, AL, MS, LA, AR, TX, OK, IL, OH, KY, and CA), and three countries outside of the U.S (Germany, Honduras, and Panama).  Even though i spent twenty two years in the Army National Guard, one thing i did get to do in uniform was travel (for training, not sight seeing).

Sanguine

The Sanguine temperament personality is fairly extroverted. People of a sanguine temperament tend to enjoy social gatherings, making new friends and tend to be quite loud. They are usually quite creative and often daydream. However, some alone time is crucial for those of this temperament. Sanguine can also mean very sensitive, compassionate and thoughtful. Sanguine personalities generally struggle with following tasks all the way through, are chronically late, and tend to be forgetful and sometimes a little sarcastic. Often, when pursuing a new hobby, interest is lost quickly when it ceases to be engaging or fun. They are very much people persons. They are talkative and not shy. For some people, these are the ones you want to be friends with and usually they become life long friends.

Choleric

A person who is choleric is a doer. They have a lot of ambition, energy, and passion, and try to instill it in others. They can dominate people of other temperaments, especially phlegmatic types. Many great charismatic military and political figures were cholerics. They like to be leaders and in charge of everything.

Melancholic

A person who is a thoughtful ponderer has a melancholic disposition. Often very considerate and get rather worried when they could not be on time for events, melancholics can be highly creative in activities such as poetry and art - and can become occupied with the tragedy and cruelty in the world. A melancholic is also often a perfectionist. They are often self-reliant and independent; one negative part of being a melancholic is sometimes they can get so involved in what they are doing they forget to think of others.

Phlegmatic

Phlegmatics tend to be self-content and kind. They can be very accepting and affectionate. They may be very receptive and shy and often prefer stability to uncertainty and change. They are very consistent, relaxed, rational, curious, and observant, making them good administrators and diplomats.

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Ramblin' Random Wednesday

1. Ever had any run-ins with the "library police?" ~ The worst i've ever experienced is a late notification being received.  Everything was fine and dandy once i returned the books in question.  I was fortunate to not encounter the dark suits and sunglasses.

2. Do you have a special organizational plan and place for wrapping paper, gift bags, etc., or do you just purchase whatever you need as you give gifts? ~ My sole responsibility at Christmas time is to wrap presents.  It can take me more than 10 minutes per package.  More if it is an odd shape.  Now, having said that, as much as i would like to have a little work table, with all of my supplies laid out on it... it usually ends up me on the floor, or coffee table in an uncomfortable cross legged seat, my legs going numb and my back going out.  Even during the year, my Beloved brings the prize to me for wrapping before any birthday party/shower event/etc.

3. Have you ever been in (first-hand witness) a natural disaster? ~ By God's grace, i have never experienced a natural disaster first hand - that is i have never been where one was happening, but i have seen the devastation first hand on a few occasions.  Being a member of the National Guard exposed me to several floods where we were deployed to help out. I was also deployed to help after Hurricane Katrina and Rita (which rolled in while we deployed - some intense hours in Army huts at the end of an Air National Guard runway) Some help was not as easy as others.  I will never forget the sight... the devastation , the smell... or the sense of personal pride of being able to do something, anything, to help.

4. What's your favorite Barry Manilow song? ~ Barry who?  Just kidding Linda... um... to be honest... never really a fan of Mr. Manilow. The only song that comes to mind is "I Write the Songs".

5. What's the best costume you've ever worn? ~ Ooh... that brings back some memories.  Way back, before High School, i was into the Rock group KISS.  Ace Freeley being my personal favorite of the group. 

My costume was not Ace, but of a zombie soldier.  I mentioned the KISS connection only because of the makeup, which completed this costume.  I spiked out my hair to make it look matted and stuff.  I did a full white face and neck and then used black to make it look like a skull.  Then i colored pieces of smooth toilet paper and paper towels with a pale flesh color and then stuck layers of the stuff in various places all over my face and neck.  Highlighted various areas with "dried blood", etc.  I had some memorable reactions to that one.  The desire to get in costume, even at sci-fi or renaissance festivals, has waned dramatically since then though. 

6. Which do you use more often, the dictionary or the thesaurus? ~ Thesaurus, definitely.  I have come to rely on spell check in both Word and Firefox way too much.  I find that it also helps a lot in my writing.  Especially when i am using the same word over and over.  The Thesaurus helps me find other words that mean the same thing, sometimes even fits better.

7. What's your favorite breakfast food? ~ French Toast.  Yummy!  Although, a really good Blueberry Muffin, say from Dunkin Doughnuts, will give them a run for their money on some mornings.

8. Have you ever purchased anything from an infomercial? ~ Not directly, but now that our local mall has an "As seen on TV" Store... a few.  The ShamWow is awesome.  I also have the drain snake.  Both work as advertised.

9. Have you ever crawled through a window? ~ Not sure why, but i actually chuckled at this question.  The answer is yes.  As a latchkey kid there was many a time i would forget my key and have to find my way in.  Especially since there was a better chance than even my mom would not be home until late.  Now i look back and realize i should have been more responsible and made sure i had my key, back then it was just my normal way of doing things.

10. Do you believe in love at first sight? ~ I do.  It happened to me... even though i was too daft to recognize it at first.  The afternoon i met my Beloved she was supposed to be on a canoe trip, and i was being introduced to her roomate on a blind date.  The three of us spent a whole football game talking about the Sovereignty of God.  Later, after the homecoming dance and dinner, the whole Christian group from her college went to Denny's and later to a park (at 1 AM).  Two or three days later i was on the top of a ladder, working on someone's gutters (i was a carpenter's apprentice at the time), when the Holy Spirit gently tapped me on my shoulder and "asked" me if i had been paying attention.  It took a little while, but i eventually got my act together and got in touch with her... even though we were seperated by over 50 miles, and i didn't have my own car.

11. How man pairs of jeans do you own? ~ Umm... four.  2 black, and 2 blue.  One of the blue ones are really faded, the other is too long in the leg.  One of the black pair is too small now that i've added on some "love handles".  I'd wear them all the time if i could get away with it though.

12. If someone were going to bake a cake to honor/represent you, what would it be? (Think creatively, like Duff and Crew on "Ace of Cakes.") ~ I am not a big fan of fondant cakes.  The icing is not all that delectable... in my opinon.  However, i think a cake that would represent me would have to have four elements... 1) It should look sort of like the Matrix or TRON... 2) It should have some samurai elements... 3) It must incorporate some Elven influence, and finally 4)  It must represent my faith in Christ.  The first 3 could be summed up by one word/genre/game:  Shadowrun, while the later could be represented by using a cross.

I will Keep Christmas in my heart all year long

I have a reputation of sorts at work.  I have been known to whistle/sing Christmas carols pretty much any time of the year.  I do not necessarily have any one favorite song for the season so at least there is some variety.  This time of year has been special to me for a very long time.I don't remember exactly when, but i do know it was after i knew the truth about the guy in the suit.  To me the season is awe inspiring in that God chose to step down from His throne and take on the aspects of man...  Songs like O Holy Night and Mary Did You Know bring me to a point of worship like few other songs do.

 

 

It's also this time of year i miss the Cross centered messages from my old church, Covenant Life in Gaithersburg, MD, the most.  I still follow Pastor CJ Mahaney's blog. Yesterday's post was yet another inspirational message for me. The more i learn about the Holiness of Christ, the more i learn and about my own depravity (let alone the depravity of man as a whole), the more i am amazed that God took any interest in me at all.  And then, as i draw closer to Christmas day and celebrate the birth of mankind's Savior, and i meditate on God coming to earth... the more i am moved by the initiative Jesus took to come down and become man... to reach out to me.  There are many times i feel like the woman at the well, or even the leapers in the streets, and yet there He is... reaching out... touching me...

Christmas is about God the Father (the offended party) taking the initiative to send his only begotten son to offer his life as the atoning sacrifice for our sins, so that we might be forgiven for our many sins. (from CJ's blog yesterday)

I definitely do not have a corner on the market regarding the things of Christ, but i would encourage you to read the Gospels and just marvel at all that Christ did.

Now the birth of Jesus Christ [5] took place in this way. When his mother Mary had been betrothed [6] to Joseph, before they came together she was found to be with child from the Holy Spirit.  And her husband Joseph, being a just man and unwilling to put her to shame, resolved to divorce her quietly.  But as he considered these things, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream, saying, “Joseph, son of David, do not fear to take Mary as your wife, for that which is conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit.  She will bear a son, and you shall call his name Jesus, for he will save his people from their sins.”  All this took place to fulfill what the Lord had spoken by the prophet:

“Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son,
and they shall call his name Immanuel”

(which means, God with us).  When Joseph woke from sleep, he did as the angel of the Lord commanded him: he took his wife, but knew her not until she had given birth to a son. And he called his name Jesus.

In those days a decree went out from Caesar Augustus that all the world should be registered.  This was the first registration when [1] Quirinius was governor of Syria.  And all went to be registered, each to his own town.  And Joseph also went up from Galilee, from the town of Nazareth, to Judea, to the city of David, which is called Bethlehem, because he was of the house and lineage of David,  to be registered with Mary, his betrothed, [2] who was with child.  And while they were there, the time came for her to give birth.  And she gave birth to her firstborn son and wrapped him in swaddling cloths and laid him in a manger, because there was no place for them in the inn.

And in the same region there were shepherds out in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night.  And an angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were filled with fear.  And the angel said to them, “Fear not, for behold, I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people.  For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord.  And this will be a sign for you: you will find a baby wrapped in swaddling cloths and lying in a manger.”  And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God and saying,

“Glory to God in the highest,
and on earth peace among those with whom he is pleased!” [3]

When the angels went away from them into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, “Let us go over to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has made known to us.”  And they went with haste and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby lying in a manger.  And when they saw it, they made known the saying that had been told them concerning this child.  And all who heard it wondered at what the shepherds told them.  But Mary treasured up all these things, pondering them in her heart.  And the shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all they had heard and seen, as it had been told them.

 And at the end of eight days, when he was circumcised, he was called Jesus, the name given by the angel before he was conceived in the womb.

Now after Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea in the days of Herod the king, behold, wise men [1] from the east came to Jerusalem,  saying, “Where is he who has been born king of the Jews? For we saw his star when it rose [2] and have come to worship him.”  When Herod the king heard this, he was troubled, and all Jerusalem with him;  and assembling all the chief priests and scribes of the people, he inquired of them where the Christ was to be born.  They told him, “In Bethlehem of Judea, for so it is written by the prophet:

“‘And you, O Bethlehem, in the land of Judah,
are by no means least among the rulers of Judah;
for from you shall come a ruler
who will shepherd my people Israel.’”

Then Herod summoned the wise men secretly and ascertained from them what time the star had appeared.  And he sent them to Bethlehem, saying, “Go and search diligently for the child, and when you have found him, bring me word, that I too may come and worship him.”  After listening to the king, they went on their way. And behold, the star that they had seen when it rose went before them until it came to rest over the place where the child was.  When they saw the star, they rejoiced exceedingly with great joy.  And going into the house they saw the child with Mary his mother, and they fell down and worshiped him. Then, opening their treasures, they offered him gifts, gold and frankincense and myrrh.  And being warned in a dream not to return to Herod, they departed to their own country by another way.

And when the time came for their purification according to the Law of Moses, they brought him up to Jerusalem to present him to the Lord  (as it is written in the Law of the Lord, “Every male who first opens the womb shall be called holy to the Lord”)  and to offer a sacrifice according to what is said in the Law of the Lord, “a pair of turtledoves, or two young pigeons.”  Now there was a man in Jerusalem, whose name was Simeon, and this man was righteous and devout, waiting for the consolation of Israel, and the Holy Spirit was upon him.  And it had been revealed to him by the Holy Spirit that he would not see death before he had seen the Lord's Christ.  And he came in the Spirit into the temple, and when the parents brought in the child Jesus, to do for him according to the custom of the Law,  he took him up in his arms and blessed God and said,

“Lord, now you are letting your servant [4] depart in peace,
according to your word;
for my eyes have seen your salvation
that you have prepared in the presence of all peoples,
light for revelation to the Gentiles,
and for glory to your people Israel.”

And his father and his mother marveled at what was said about him.  And Simeon blessed them and said to Mary his mother, “Behold, this child is appointed for the fall and rising of many in Israel, and for a sign that is opposed  (and a sword will pierce through your own soul also), so that thoughts from many hearts may be revealed.”

And there was a prophetess, Anna, the daughter of Phanuel, of the tribe of Asher. She was advanced in years, having lived with her husband seven years from when she was a virgin,  and then as a widow until she was eighty-four. [5] She did not depart from the temple, worshiping with fasting and prayer night and day. And coming up at that very hour she began to give thanks to God and to speak of him to all who were waiting for the redemption of Jerusalem. (Matthew 1:18-25, Luke 2:1-21, Matthew 2:1-12, Luke 2:22-38 - all verses from the ESV)

May the Spirit of God meet each and everyone of you this holiday season.  May the Holy Spirit fill each of us with a renewed sense of awe and wonder in all that Christ accomplished for us on the Cross, and even more that He would relent and approach us in the form of a baby, born to a virgin.

Welcome to my 750th post!

It's hard to believe that it has almost been four years since my first blog (6-Jan-06). This humble blog has not stormed the world wide web by any means (nor was that my intention). It has maybe a dozen visitors from random web sources from various search results, and only a handful of "faithful" followers. But that's ok. I mostly write for me, and i enjoy writing, and if God uses it for whatever reason, then that is awesome. It started out pretty slowly... just text, but as time has gone on i've learned how to link sites, insert pictures, and even spruce up around the edges. I even have a friend who has offered to help me spice it up even more. I am very grateful for his offer. He commutes over 3 hours a day, he is heavily involved at our church, not to mention the every day tasks of being a husband and father - so whenever he has time - i am very grateful. That reminds me... i've had a couple of people tell me that they enjoy my ramblings and have been encouraging me to not stop. I actually do like to post several thoughts so... i guess that format will continue on for a while. For today i am taking a turn from the "2nd Cup of Coffee" blog. For your reading pleasure i present this week's Random Dozen: 1. Which physical trait do you now accept--maybe not love, but accept--and no longer feel extremely self-conscious about? ~ Wow, what a way to start it off! For me it's the fact i have a voice that is, well... let's just say not as deep as i would prefer. 2. This week Meredith Baxter Birney, best known as the mom on the favorite 80s sitcom "Family Ties" came out of the closet, which led me to formulate this question: Who do you think is/was the best TV mom? ~ To be honest... i never gave it much thought... since i have been put on the spot i would have to say Kim Brown from 'The Unit.' She's smart, tough, and does what she needs to do for her family. 3. Do you speak any foreign languages? Are there any you'd like to learn? ~ To my shame i do not. I know a sprinkling of phrases or words from several languages, but i could not find a bathroom in any non-english speaking country in the world. 8( I would like to learn Spanish, and Japanese. Just not sure i am disciplined enough to actually do something about it. 4. Who is your personal hero? ~ I have three. One living, and two long dead. The living one would be CJ Mahaney. I admire this man for his humility, his humbleness, and his willingness to laugh at himself. He has overcome his own personal lack of higher education and set himself to study and verse himself in all things Christ. One of the long dead hero's i would like to present is Thomas Jonathon Jackson, aka "Stonewall". This man also over came the loss of his immediate family and lack of educational opportunities to rise up and make something of himself. And like CJ once God awoke his heart and mind to the things of the gospel he "sold out" heart-mind-and soul. The last person who is my personal hero is the First on the list. He is Jesus Christ, my Lord, my Savior. He literally is my all. While we aspire to be like our hero's, until He called me i never gave Him a second thought, and now He is working with His Father in heaven to make me into His image more and more everyday. 5. What is one holiday food that you find extremely difficult to resist over- indulging in? ~ This one is easy. Pumpkin Pie. Especially my beloved's homemade pie (made with Libby's pie filling). I could eat that until i get sick. I will eat her pie in place of breakfast, lunch AND/OR dinner! 6. Tell me about a Christmas decoration that has special meaning or sentimental value. ~ I am not a really sentimental kind of guy. I cannot think of anyone ornament that stands out above the others. For me the one i care the most about is the star we place at the top. It is always placed last. 7. How do you feel about snow? ~ Snow is a mixed bag for me. I hate being cold, but i hate being wet AND cold even more. But as i've gotten older (i.e. wiser - i hope) i've learned how to bundle up and dress in layers better (another benny from being in the Guard). When i was on active duty i grew to enjoy being out in it. While colder, it is a lot like being out in the rain... which i love. 8. On average, how many hours of sleep do you get each night? Not that I'm jealous of any number over three or anything. ~ Hmm... this is a hard one since it's hard to keep track. In general i believe it's about 6 hours total, but usually in 2-3 hour chunks. 9. Tell me about your first crush. ~ That would be my beloved. Ok, no one is buying that? Um... it was the daughter of one of my mom's "friends". It didn't last very long, or get very serious. 10. You're stuck in a room for 2 hours with only a chalkboard and chalk. What will you write/draw? ~ I honestly have no clue! 8) It all depends on my mood, things that i am currently thinking about... things i was doing prior to be locked away... etc. 11. Do you dress for the current temp or for the day's forecast? ~ Another thing the Guard taught me is you do not dress for the current temp, but the temp it will be at later in the day. This is because it was not possible to change the layers, etc., and you had to economize loads. The only thing that i will do regarding current weather is to make sure i am dressed for rain/snow, etc. 12. Favorite Christmas movie is? ~ Another easy one for me: A Christmas Carol. I like the story of how Ebenezer Scrooge changes once he sees his life in perspective. I have been known to watch almost any version of this classic, but my all time favorite is the one Patric Stewart has done for A&E. Mr. Stewart is excellent in this rendition of the movie. I've always wanted to see his one man show version, but money and distance are the biggest factors. That is all i have for today. I pray that this finds each of you enjoying God's Amazing Grace.

Random thoughts

Well, it's Tuesday and i am still adjusting to some new things at work. My mind spins like a top when new things get introduced and it takes me a little while to get them all back "in control". This means that although i wanted to stop doing rambling blogs i am going to keep on doing them for a while. 8) I just can't seem to help myself. Every once in a while i feel inclined to write Haiku poems. I don't know why really, but i have fun writing them. Here are three that came to me yesterday.

Mountains standing firm Rolling Thunder still afar Summits fade too soon

From leeward to peak Power building till release Thunder in the valley

A flower in bloom Pleasant aroma wafts over Intoxicating

Did you ever notice that there are some foods that are really good, but for some reason unless it is from the region it is known for it's just not as good? For example, when my Father lived in San Francisco i was first exposed to Sour Dough Bread. My mouth still waters when i think about the smell and the taste. I still LOVE sour dough, but it's just not as good. The same can be said for things like Chicago Deep Dish Pizza, Philly Cheese Steaks, or New York "Nathan's" Hot Dogs. All of these foods/dishes are offered around the country, but until you have tasted the original - you have just not enjoyed the true dish. For me... i still need to tracel to Dublin, Texas to get my hands on a true Dr. Pepper - made from the original formula. 8) I have never had a good experience with what's known as "White Elephant" parties. For the uninitiated this is a party where everyone brings a gift that was found around the house/apartment/loft/whatever, that is no longer needed by the original owner. It is then wrapped so no one else knows what it is. The game consists of everyone taking a turn where they can either "steal" a previously chosen (and unwrapped) gift, or take a "new" one from the unwrapped pile. Once a gift has been "stolen" three times it gets "locked" and is no longer eligible to steal. One the last unwrapped present has been opened, the first person to go gets one last chance to steal a present. Oh, and if your present gets stolen, you cannot steal it back - but you can steal a different present, or take an unwrapped present from the pile. Ok, back to what i was going to say. My presents have been things like, VHS exercise tapes, or "yard sale starter kits", i've even opened a walking leg boot (you know, for when people sprain their ankles and such). One year i received a quirky television show theme song CD. Not bad, but afterwards the host of the party came over and informed me that the CD had belonged to him and that he had loaned it to "Joe Snuffy" and they had never returned it. So this year, i informed my beloved that i no longer wished to participate in the game. Anyway, after the dust settled i ended up with the best present i had ever had from one of these things - and i had not even played! It was a Coca-Cola suncatcher, and the winner of it! A friend had won it and when i mentioned that i thought it was pretty cool he gave it to me. 8) That was really nice of him. It's hanging in my cubicle as i write. Ok, last but not necessarily least - because when i ramble it is really in no particular order. Yesterday i had the urge to re-listen to Susan Boyle's "Britain's Got Talent" appearance. The first one that really caused such a stir in "cyber-land". What a great story, and she really does have an incredible voice. I can no longer embed the video from You Tube, but you click on the link here to watch it for yourself if you'd like. When i watched it last night she still brought chills to my arms listening to her. I'm not sure i will go buy her album though. It's not because of anything about her, or the music industry or anything... i just don't buy a lot of music - iTunes or otherwise. After i watched Susan's video again i re-watched a clip from The 5th Element. The one where the Diva is singing her Opera. I am not sure what it is about that song, but it moves me as well. The human voice is by far the most powerful and beautiful musical instrument when played by someone who truly knows how to use it.

And the new year begins!

My beloved and i spent a relatively quiet night at home with a few other families. We just played a few games, chatted around the fire place, and ate until our tummy's ached. ;-) A good time was had by all. We even managed to crawl into bed before sunrise. One thing though... when one stays up so late, it would be smart to turn off one's alarm clock. ;-) I failed to do so and when it went off at my normal time i turned it off and started my normal work day routine... only to realize... i didn't have to go to work on New Years day! lol It took me almost 20 minutes for the fog in my brain to clear enough to realize what i was doing... My poor beloved was feeling very run down from the ramp up to Christmas and then hosting her parents for the week, so i took all three of our young 'uns and headed out to Toys R Us so they could get something with their gift cards, etc. The geek that i am picked up a Scolastic Book on Obi Wan Kenobi. Ok, so it's written for ages 9+... he's my favorite Jedi! The rest of the day we sat around and watched movies and snacking on popcorn. When i woke up this morning i could have sworn it was a Monday instead of Friday. I think the fog has yet to fully lift. ;-) Still there's not much going on this weekend. I hope to get a few more boards nailed down for my deck. I only have about 8 to go, but these are the ones i will need to notch for an exterior PVC pipe, and make up a hatch for a sump pump access. That, and to watch some NFL playoff games. ;-) I am rooting for for Arizona but i doubt the Cardinals defense will be able to contain Turner and Ryan. But with Kurt Warner anything is possible. Then i think Colts are going to take Chargers. this one is hard to predict. Both teams are riding winning streaks - but i'm pretty sure Payton manning will take 'em. On Sunday i am rooting for the Ravens. Mostly out of loyalty to my old army buddies - most of which where/are Baltimore Ravens fans. I am not real confident that a team that went 1-15 a year ago can go very deep in the playoffs the next year. Should be some good games no matter who pulls out the victory.

The Christmas "hangover"

Wow it has been a whirlwind of a week. My vacation started last Friday so that my beloved and i could knock out our last minute Christmas shopping. The mission was a success. Sunday night i stayed up, wrapping presents, and watching the Carolina Panthers lose to the New York Giants 28-34. :-/ I do not play the game of football (fantasy does not count), i am not a professional sports writer, and i do not know any of the players on the team personally (or even second hand... i even have my doubts about the six degrees of separation). I am disappointed in the result only as a fan of the Panthers. But as a fan of football that was a good game. With :04 left on the clock i watched as John Kasay lined up for a game winning kick, only to see it get blown wide left. My heart sank for Kasay. As a fan from the very beginning he has been my all time favorite Panther player. I have to tip my hat to the Giants. They had worn the Panther defense down and when it mattered most, they dominated the line of scrimmage. God willing, the rematch next month should be an excellent game. Speaking of John Kasay, my absolute favorite gift that i received for Christmas this year was a replica jersey (pictured above). I had picked up Panthers jersey (#85 Wesley Walls - black) years ago, but this was the one i've wanted for a long time. So much so i'd be willing to part with ol' #85 - if the price is right. ;-) I really need to get that "man cave" started in the basement. I need a place to hang up my Panthers and Army stuff. LOL This week has been a joy. Time at home with the family - including the in-laws, time to relax with my beloved, play games with the kids, just sitting back and enjoying the time with each of them. Alas such things are not meant to last forever - which makes them all the sweeter when they come. Tis back to work for me...

A "Stolen" Holiday and other ramblings

As Christmas day gets closer it seems i have less and less time to blog. It also doesn't help that i usually blog from work so my time is even more limited. It has been a huge help fasting from direct Facebook access as i have been able to refocus on the things i am supposed to. Last week i blogged about my feelings regarding "a tale of two Christmases", and a gaming and WWW acquaintance, sent me an e-mail regarding some points of the history of Christmas. So that i do not misquote i will past a copy of it here:

Hiya. The main reason I asked the question I did, is because your comments about people losing the "true spirit" of Christmas struck me as somewhat humorous, in a wry, twisted way. Being a Christian, you may not like what I'm about to say, but I hope you will take it as openly as you have everything else in all the discussions I've seen you in. *** WARNING: religiously contentious issue below *** Simply put, Christmas is a "stolen" holiday. Most of the traditional Christmas trappings come from an older, pagan winter festival. With the exception of Santa Claus, who was originally St. Nicholas, a very real Christian figure, who has since been corrupted and re-imaged thanks to commercialism (iirc, the current image of the fat guy in the red-and-white suit came from a Coca-Cola ad). It has even been argued that it is impossible for the holiday of Christmas to truly match with the supposed time of Christ's birth, because middle-east shepherds did not "watch their flocks by night" in the middle of December. So, in my eyes, the Christ in Christmas is nothing more than the artificial add-ons made by a church intent on conquest by conversion. Indeed, many of the Christian holidays and events are repackaged pagan festivals. And, granted, commercialism has made large and somewhat unsavoury inroads to all these holidays. So much has been lost or altered through time and meddling, that nobody can say what the "true" spirit of any holiday is. All that remains for sure is that Christmas/Yuletide/whatever-you-want-to-call-it is a time for friends and family to gather for a feast (meaning good food, plenty of booze, and a bucketload of fun) and restrengthen bonds that may have weakened over the year past. And that, more than any influence of any faith, is the best reason for a holiday I can think of.

I quote his e-mail not in an attempt to pick it apart, because that is not why i did it. I quoted it because i wanted to make sure i did not mis-represent what he did indeed say. I appreciated his e-mail because he was not trying to lambaste me for being a Christian. He was not trying to belittle my belief in Christ. What he was trying to point out that the Christmas "season" and my point of lamenting the loss of Christ in "Christmas" has no basis because in its origins this season had nothing to do with Christ. This is not some humanistic attempt to undermine my faith, it is the truth. For brevity i am not going to go into it here - but there is little doubt that Christ was NOT born in December, but that the "Christ Mass" was implemented during this season by the church of old in an attempt to help ease the conversion of "pagans" and "barbarians". His e-mail helped me realize that the loss of Christ in "Christmas" i was lamenting really has nothing to do with the loss of influence of Christians during this time of year. It was never really "ours" in the first place. He helped me see what i was really trying to say... That we as Christians need to keep the season and remember why we celebrate Christmas. We have a tradition of celebrating Christ's birth during this time of year and that is not a bad thing, but we cannot expect the world to conform to how we want to celebrate. We are to be "in the world", but "not of [the world]". Here was my response to his e-mail:

Sorry it's taken me so long to get back to you. Life can get in the way of simple correspondence. :-) I, in turn, had to chuckle at your e-mail. I was already aware of the holiday we currently call "Christmas" being a "stolen" holiday and that it is pretty unlikely that December being the actual time of birth of Christ. I had actually blogged about this (albeit not very in depth) not too far back. Your points are quite true, and they did get me thinking about other areas of the season if you will. ***Religiously contentious content to follow*** ;-) In my opinion the church has done this sort of thing all too often. I mean, most of the "Holy sites" in the middle east (referring strictly to the Christian ones) are highly suspect at best. The Crusades... yea, like forcing your will upon a populace converts anyone... not to mention the amount of damage done to probably the most "civilized" cultures of the day - and the loss of knowledge when the Europeans moved through North Africa and the Middle East. Sad really. Oh, another thing about the Christmas traditions... no where in the scriptures does it say that there were three wise men (magi). It does not mention a number, but only refers to them in the plural sense, and it merely lists three gifts. I am by no means a Biblical scholar. I guess what i really want this time of year, especially for Christians, is that this should be a time of reflection of why we celebrate the birth of Christ. We do indeed need to know that this season is a "borrowed" ;-) season, but it is less important to know the exact day as it is to know the who, and what His life ultimately accomplished. In many ways [my friend] the American church as a whole really has strayed from the teachings of Christ. The focus has turned away from God being the focus, to mankind being the focus. These are very broad statements, and I am not really sure how effectively I could discuss such things. I appreciate your willingness to share your points below. I hope you have a great holiday season, and that you get to "feast" and renew your relationships that you have allowed to lapse over the past year. Merry Christmas from your "religious" friend. -[samurai]

This, along with a few other conversations i've been having lately, have been helpful for me to be more aware of what Christ may be doing in my life lately. Where He may be leading me... hopefully i won't let fear get in the way... this time. Ok... on to my other thoughts... i want to take advantage of my time since i may not get to blog again tomorrow... Recently it was announced that McG has already begun work on a sequel to next May's Terminator Salavation. wOOt!!! \o/ I had heard that they were probably going to try and make it another trilogy in the Terminator story line. I also was able to see the second movie trailer: (http://rss.warnerbros.com/terminatorsalvation/) There are several other movies coming out around that time that i am really looking forward to... but this is my "big" one. I recently had tried to run a separate blog on my Fallout 3 experience, but it just wasn't working. I am also having trouble capturing and sharing my screen shots, so instead of boring people in a separate blog i thought i would just bore people here from time to time. LOL Anyway... I am going to run for now.... May God our out His Spirit upon all who stumble upon this blog.

Music Monday - 20081215

My post today is going to be quick... My song for today is tied into my Music Monday post from last week...

Mary Did You Know lyrics by Mark Lowry, 1984 music by Buddy Greene, 1990 Mary, did you know That your baby boy will one day walk on water? Did you know That your baby boy will save our sons and daughters? Did you know That your baby boy has come to make you new? This child that you've delivered Will soon deliver you Mary, did you know That your baby boy will give sight to a blind man? Did you know That your baby boy will calm a storm with his hand? Did you know That your baby boy has walked where angels trod? And when you kiss your little boy You've kissed the face of god Mary, did you know? The blind will see The deaf will hear And the dead will live again The lame will leap The dumb will speak The praises of the lamb Mary, did you know That your baby boy is lord of all creation? Did you know That your baby boy will one day rules the nations? Did you know That your baby boy is heavens perfect lamb? This sleeping child you're holding Is the great I am

A powerful song...

Oh the weather outside is frightful...

Listening to the news this morning you would have thought the end was near. "Oh no! the weather will be cold and windy today!" I know it's only October and all, but come on people this is the Fall after all. Winter is coming and the weather is bound to change. There's not even any snow coming our way! Relax people, we will have snow soon enough. For now just enjoy the opportunity to snuggle in your living rooms and enjoy someone's company. I took my lunch break to run down to GameStop to pick up my pre-ordered copy of Fallout 3 (PC) and the "Prima Collector's Edition Game Guide". I still do not have the laptop to play it on, but that's ok. Anyway... i walk into the mall and what greets my eyes but Christmas decorations! Now, i am not one who is turned off by this in general. For me it is a welcome diversion to all that is Halloween. I love Fall, i think i mentioned this before, but the one thing i am not fond of during this time of year is all of the Halloween things. I am not fond of horror movies, and i am not particularly fond of trick-or-treating. But that is me. I know there are many who enjoy the festivities, etc. so for the most part i keep my opinions of these things to myself. But when i saw the Christmas decorations i was, slightly, filled with joy. Not because of the mad retail season, but because we are ever closer to the season of celebrating the coming of the Christ. So dread not my heart - the Yule is coming! Verse for today: Luke 1 : 26-33, ESV In the sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent from God to a city of Galilee named Nazareth, to a virgin betrothed [2] to a man whose name was Joseph, of the house of David. And the virgin's name was Mary. And he came to her and said, “Greetings, O favored one, the Lord is with you!” [3] But she was greatly troubled at the saying, and tried to discern what sort of greeting this might be. And the angel said to her, “Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God. And behold, you will conceive in your womb and bear a son, and you shall call his name Jesus. He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High. And the Lord God will give to him the throne of his father David, and he will reign over the house of Jacob forever, and of his kingdom there will be no end.”

Music Monday - 20081006

The past week has been a blur, and the coming week does not promise to be anymore in focus. :( So, instead of a 'deep' song i though i would share an instrumental... Fall is my favorite season of the year, and having grown up in the Washington DC area it usually does not wane until after the Christmas season. Christmas in turn is my favorite holiday season. Growing up in a family where presents were fairly sparse helped me curb the natural greed instinct (despite my mothers truly heroic efforts). I have always been captivated by the birth of Christ. I know He was not born on December 25th and all that, but that does not stop me from being in wonder of the whole thing. God's condescension to take on human form, not just our form, but in to begin in our weakest and most dependent state. How God the Father sent the angels to announce His birth. The reaction of the shepherds. The wise men from the east. How He then grew into a man and proclaimed the Good News. And then, how He willingly went to the cross to die for me. I 'suffer' through the Halloween season, i feast my way through Thanksgiving, but for me Christmas season began five days ago. Verse for today: Luke 2 : 1-7, ESV In those days a decree went out from Caesar Augustus that all the world should be registered. This was the first registration when [1] Quirinius was governor of Syria. And all went to be registered, each to his own town. And Joseph also went up from Galilee, from the town of Nazareth, to Judea, to the city of David, which is called Bethlehem, because he was of the house and lineage of David, to be registered with Mary, his betrothed, [2] who was with child. And while they were there, the time came for her to give birth. And she gave birth to her firstborn son and wrapped him in swaddling cloths and laid him in a manger, because there was no place for them in the inn.

Happy New Year, 2008!

Wow the time really flies when you are having fun. Even when that fun is a vacation spent at home for the holidays. Christmas was a very nice time. We stayed home, and did not have anyone over. I was a little disappointed when the movies that I ordered for my beloved - 2 weeks before - had not arrived in time for Christmas. :( But she was very gracvious and I still received my presents from her. ;-) I received a copy of 'The Unit - season 2' on DVD, a copy of 'Amazing Grace' on DVD, a copy of "Ratatouille' on DVD, a Carolina Panthers hat, and the first of what I hope becomes a collevtion of little churches. Sort of like the 'David Winter' type houses. This one was a small 'Country Church' that could be used as an ornament on the tree. Later, I received a very nice fleece jacket from my sister and brother-in-law. The rest of the week was spent painting a bathroom, moving an entertainment center, installing a surround sound system that I had bought a year ago, and hanging a sconse (? sp) and some curtains for some windows previously hidden by the afor mentioned enterainment center. :) New Years eve was spent catching up with some old friends. It was a large crowd, but I played some scrabble, a game called Man's/Woman's Law (very interesting), and then had the chance to catch up with an old friend who is also an army buddy. He has had a pretty interesting life since we last had a chance to catch up. But the chit-chat is catching up with me today. We stayed up until 4 in the morning, and then I was up early to make sure he was not ambushed by the kids. The last night we were invited over to a freinds house for dinner. They have 3 kids about 4 years older (average), but it was nice to be invited out so we accepted. The result is I am starting my New Year a little burned out. LOL But that's ok. I still have 2 more small sconses to hang up. 3 more curtain rods (the curtains will come later), and a ceiling fan. I hope you all had a great Christmas and start to the New Year. I need to catch up with all of the blogs I've been missing. Verse for today: Psalm 2:1-6, ESV Why do the nations rage [1] and the peoples plot in vain? The kings of the earth set themselves, and the rulers take counsel together, against the Lord and against his Anointed, saying, “Let us burst their bonds apart and cast away their cords from us.” He who sits in the heavens laughs; the Lord holds them in derision. Then he will speak to them in his wrath, and terrify them in his fury, saying, “As for me, I have set my King on Zion, my holy hill.”