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.
20081006
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.
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.
20081003
Football and/or Fallout Fridays
Ah the smell and feel of Fall. This is my absolute most favorite time of year. The colors, the temperatures, the knowledge that soon i will not have to cut my grass again for several months, and the sound of football on Sundays.
When i was younger i loved sitting around and watching the Washington Redskins play. My first memory of the game was from when i lived with my father in Brooklyn, New York. I still remember pictures in my mind of seeing the game being played on his black and white screen. Not long after that he took me and my brother to our first NFL game. The Redskins had come to town to play the New York Giants. This how i became an NFL football fan. :) Now, as i grew older and moved to live with my mom i learned what it was like to be a ravenous football fan. I mean, the whole body gets involved, the emotions, the muscles, the whole body! It was too much for me and i started to 'fall away'. Until the NFL announced their decision to expand to 30 teams starting in 1995. I thought, "this is my chance to follow a team from its inception. No one can accuse me of being a bandwagon fan". Thus my 'love' for the Carolina Panthers. :)
This weekend the Panthers play host to the Kansas City Chiefs. No offense to the Chiefs, but i really hope the Panthers are poor hosts and pretty much take the game to them. The Panthers have not done well at home under Coach Fox. I have no idea why this is the case, but there it is. And with the Panthers being a 9 point favorite, and the Chiefs having a hard time winning so far this year, it is the perfect opportunity for a Panther let down. :(
May God grant each of you a peace and joy filled weekend.
Verse for today:
Psalm 11, ESV
In the Lord I take refuge;
how can you say to my soul,
“Flee like a bird to your mountain,
for behold, the wicked bend the bow;
they have fitted their arrow to the string
to shoot in the dark at the upright in heart;
if the foundations are destroyed,
what can the righteous do?” [1]
When i was younger i loved sitting around and watching the Washington Redskins play. My first memory of the game was from when i lived with my father in Brooklyn, New York. I still remember pictures in my mind of seeing the game being played on his black and white screen. Not long after that he took me and my brother to our first NFL game. The Redskins had come to town to play the New York Giants. This how i became an NFL football fan. :) Now, as i grew older and moved to live with my mom i learned what it was like to be a ravenous football fan. I mean, the whole body gets involved, the emotions, the muscles, the whole body! It was too much for me and i started to 'fall away'. Until the NFL announced their decision to expand to 30 teams starting in 1995. I thought, "this is my chance to follow a team from its inception. No one can accuse me of being a bandwagon fan". Thus my 'love' for the Carolina Panthers. :)
This weekend the Panthers play host to the Kansas City Chiefs. No offense to the Chiefs, but i really hope the Panthers are poor hosts and pretty much take the game to them. The Panthers have not done well at home under Coach Fox. I have no idea why this is the case, but there it is. And with the Panthers being a 9 point favorite, and the Chiefs having a hard time winning so far this year, it is the perfect opportunity for a Panther let down. :(
May God grant each of you a peace and joy filled weekend.
Verse for today:
Psalm 11, ESV
In the Lord I take refuge;
how can you say to my soul,
“Flee like a bird to your mountain,
for behold, the wicked bend the bow;
they have fitted their arrow to the string
to shoot in the dark at the upright in heart;
if the foundations are destroyed,
what can the righteous do?” [1] The Lord is in his holy temple; the Lord's throne is in heaven; his eyes see, his eyelids test the children of man. The Lord tests the righteous, but his soul hates the wicked and the one who loves violence. Let him rain coals on the wicked; fire and sulfur and a scorching wind shall be the portion of their cup. For the Lord is righteous; he loves righteous deeds; the upright shall behold his face.
20081001
Tales from the Darkside
A longer time ago than i would care to remember i was in a car with two friends of mine. We were doing the "guys hanging out thing" when somehow the conversation turned into a banter of Star Wars and the faith of myself and one of the my other friends. We were witnessing to our friend using a contemporary "tool" if you will.
For the past week or so i have been contemplating what it means to die to myself. I don't know if i fully understand the passages where Jesus is quoted saying "If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me." (Matthew 16:24, Mark 8:34, & Luke 9:23) There are many examples of people dieing for others outside of Jesus. Randy Shugart and Gary Gordon are two that immediately came to mind. But what is it that Jesus is calling ME to?
In some regards a call to throw yourself in harms way can be easier to bear then the little things that all add up. Please do not misunderstand what i am saying here. I am in now way taking away from the incredible sacrifice of those who have given their lives for another. It is in the end the most that anyone can do for another. But it can be harder making those daily "little" sacrifices. The deferring of your preferences for others. Why do i consider this to be more difficult? Because, at least in my mind, the little things add up over time. The enemy whispers in your ear about the 'fruit' of taking for yourself. And it is in our sinful nature to want and to be selfish. We do not have to teach our children to be selfish. Some take to the teaching of giving and sacrifice easier than others, but even the most generous take for themselves from time to time. This is why things in life are hard. When we take the easy path down range consequences are sure to follow. And I struggle with taking the initiative in my own life. This is true in all things that are worthy of pursuing. In order to succeed routinely one must be willing to do the hard thing and take initiative.
One reason Thomas Jonathon Jackson, aka "Stonewall", was so successful was that he was willing to work his men hard in order to seize the initiative and take decisive action. Early on his men complained about the workload. They did not see what he was doing. He has been quoted as saying, "I am obliged to sweat them tonight, that I may save their blood tomorrow." This is best understood by studying Jackson and his "Valley Campaign" of 1862.
Verse for today:
Hebrews 9 : 24-28, ESV
For Christ has entered, not into holy places made with hands, which are copies of the true things, but into heaven itself, now to appear in the presence of God on our behalf. Nor was it to offer himself repeatedly, as the high priest enters the holy places every year with blood not his own, for then he would have had to suffer repeatedly since the foundation of the world. But as it is, he has appeared once for all at the end of the ages to put away sin by the sacrifice of himself. And just as it is appointed for man to die once, and after that comes judgment, so Christ, having been offered once to bear the sins of many, will appear a second time, not to deal with sin but to save those who are eagerly waiting for him.
Ever notice how easy it is to succumb to anger? How quick we react when we have been "wronged"?YODA: Run! Yes. A Jedi’s strength flows from the Force. But beware of the dark side. Anger… fear… aggression. The dark side of the Force are they.
Easily they flow, quick to join you in a fight. If once you start down the dark path, forever will it dominate your destiny, consume you it will, as it did Obi-Wan’s apprentice.
What is hardest is to cultivate the fruits of the Spirit - love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control. These are things that need to be painstakingly nurtured, reinforced.LUKE: Vader. Is the dark side stronger?
YODA: No… no… no. Quicker, easier, more seductive.
LUKE: But how am I to know the good side from the bad?
YODA: You will know. When you are calm, at peace. Passive. A Jedi uses the Force for knowledge and defense, never for attack.
What is it that holds us back? We know these things (as Christians) intellectually, but why is it that we fail? Because we are inclined towards laziness and selfishness. It causes us trouble, it takes work. We succeed when we put off the old and take on the newness in Christ. When we die to ourselves we no longer care for what we want, but what we can do for others. There is a part in Eric Haney's Book Inside Delta Force that speaks volumes (to me anyway):LUKE: I'll try
YODA: Try not. Do, or do not. There is no try.
LUKE: I can't believe it.
YODA: That is why you fail.
All day long, I crossed that mountain from one side to the other.... I would arrive exhausted and breathless at one RV (check point) only to be sent to the next back on the other side I had just come from. The mountain was too big to contour around, and the lay of the was such that I could never anything approximating a direct approach or maintain the hard-earned high ground for any length of time. Never getting anywhere, back and forth across the same mountain. It was a masterful torture. But then I had a revelation. What difference could it possibly make if I crossed back and forth over this mountain until doomsday? A mountain is a mountain, time was time, and route selection was route selection. The only that that mattered was speed and ground made good.... The frustration and mental torture I had been suffering were completely of my own making - and completely within my power to disregard.- and -
I was physically spent and sore in every part of my body, But as I reflected on what I had undergone, I felt a calm sense of satisfaction and contentment. I had not just survived an ordeal, because survival in a sense if passive. No, I had conquered. But conquered what? I had to think about that a while, and then I realized: myself.What had Eric Haney realized? That when he no longer minded, it no longer mattered. I think this post better describes yet another aspect of why i admire the samurai so much. The strived to die to themselves every day in order to serve their lord. "If by seeing one's heart right every morning and evening, one is able to live as though his body were already dead, he gains freedom in 'the Way'. His whole life will be without blame, and he will succeed in his calling." (from Haguakure) Am i perfect in this... not by a long shot. But i feel that it is a noble pursuit.
Verse for today:
Hebrews 9 : 24-28, ESV
For Christ has entered, not into holy places made with hands, which are copies of the true things, but into heaven itself, now to appear in the presence of God on our behalf. Nor was it to offer himself repeatedly, as the high priest enters the holy places every year with blood not his own, for then he would have had to suffer repeatedly since the foundation of the world. But as it is, he has appeared once for all at the end of the ages to put away sin by the sacrifice of himself. And just as it is appointed for man to die once, and after that comes judgment, so Christ, having been offered once to bear the sins of many, will appear a second time, not to deal with sin but to save those who are eagerly waiting for him.
20080930
What a weekend
Last week i heard about Matt Bryant's tragic loss of his 3 month old son. I didn't comment about it last week because what can one say in such a situation. Especially since i do not know the man or his family. I am not even a fan of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. I don't 'hate' any team within the NFL. When it comes down to it, it is just one group of guys trying to best another group of guys in a sport. Even when the Panthers play the Bucs and i want the Panthers to just wail on and dominate them (which the rarely do), i do not despise the opposing team's players - and i especially do not wish for them to be injured, or to suffer such a tragedy. This past weekend i became a temporary Buccaneers fan, to be more specific a Matt Bryant fan. I was glad to see him come in and "take care of business". But what broke my heart, and prompted me to blog about this today, was a picture i saw in the Charlotte Observer (on-line) of a picture of the Bryant family before the game on Sunday. The picture is of Melissa Bryant holding up their two year old son Tre, and Matt breaking down a little. You could tell he was barely holding it together in the post-game interview as well.
I can not imagine going through that with one of my own, let alone holding it together in front of any size crowd. But he was man enough to hold it together and help contribute to his team's win. His three field goals was the exact margin of victory. No one would have held it against him, or thought any less of him if he asked to be excused for a game. I know my empoyler has provisions for me to take off up to two weeks if i were to experience such a tragedy. I don't have words to say, but i know that i can pray for him and his family.
All the best to you and yours. May you find the strength and courage to go on. Continue to be the man you are for your son and your wife. May God pour out His Spirit to be with you in this time, and may you find favor in the eyes of the Lord.
20080929
Music Monday - 20080929
Wow, what a weekend. I am dragging pretty hard right now. Our church had our annual Fall retreat and a good time was had by all. It is located in such a beautiful place. This was our 5th year going, and we always seem to have a great time.
On Friday i mentioned that i had found a friend through Facebook, and we've become "friends" again. LOL Anyway, i found out that he is in a Bluegrass band with other people from his church, and he has a link to a MySpace page that has a few of the songs they do together. One was...
Verse for today:
Psalm 23, ESV
The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want.
He makes me lie down in green pastures.
He leads me beside still waters. [1]
He restores my soul.
He leads me in paths of righteousness [2]
for his name's sake.
Peace in the Valley
Oh well, I’m tired and so weary
But I must go alone
Till the lord comes and calls, calls me away, oh yes
Well the morning's so bright
And the lamp is alight
And the night, night is as black as the sea, oh yes
There will be peace in the valley for me, some day
There will be peace in the valley for me, oh Lord I pray
There'll be no sadness, no sorrow
No trouble, trouble I see
There will be peace in the valley for me, for me
Well the bear will be gentle
And the wolves will be tame
And the lion shall lay down by the lamb, oh yes
And the beasts from the wild
Shall be lit by a child
And I'll be changed, changed from this creature that I am, oh yes
There will be peace in the valley for me, some day
There will be peace in the valley for me, oh Lord I pray
There'll be no sadness, no sorrow
No trouble, trouble I see
There will be peace in the valley for me, for me
I am not sure who the original author, but there do appear to be a large number of people who have enjoyed playing it over the years. :) Elvis Presley, Loretta Lynn, Johnny Cash, and on and on. But isn't it good to know that there will be a time when we can rest and remain by those still waters.
Verse for today:
Psalm 23, ESV
The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want.
He makes me lie down in green pastures.
He leads me beside still waters. [1]
He restores my soul.
He leads me in paths of righteousness [2]
for his name's sake. Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, [3] I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me.
You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies; you anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows. Surely [4] goodness and mercy [5] shall follow me all the days of my life, and I shall dwell [6] in the house of the Lord forever. [7]
20080926
Football and/or Fallout Fridays
It has been longer than i would like to think since i last blogged. Life has been busy and flustering of late - for me anyway. In any event on to blogging.
I already blogged about last weekends disappointing lost so i will not 'bleed' that wound any more. :) This weekend has the Atlanta Falcons coming into Charlotte. The odds makers have the Panthers at 7 point favorites. Now, the base line is based off of stats and seems reasonable, but that all goes out the window once the first ball is kicked off. Atlanta is coming off some impressive wins against the Detroit Lions (who recently fired their president) and the Kansas City Chiefs, and also a loss to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Right now i'd like to think that the Panthers are more like the Bucs than not, but i think this week will tell the tale. I think last week was more of an example of the chemistry taking time to re-gel between Jake Delhomme and Steve Smith. Not that it will just click over the past week, but it should improve. Also, the Panthers have a tendency to not really kick in the gear until November, December. Not something i am really happy about.
I am continuing to count down the days until i can get my hands on Fallout 3. Only 32 more days until the game is released. Now, honestly, i am content to wait. I am not sitting on my hands trying to contain this bottled up excitement, but i am looking forward to it. Over on a site known an IGN they are running a series of articles. Some basic stuff like what weapons are available in the game, what different kind of skills and 'perks' there are, but the article from yesterday caught attention. One thing Bethesda Software is really proud of is the fact that you can go "anywhere" and do "anything" you want. Of course that is a slight exaggeration, but it would appear that this is larger than most. Now i know many would not like the fact that some one playing the game can pull out a pistol and shoot another character in the game in cold blood, but to me this is no different than the world we live in now. We are all presented choices everyday. "...choose this day whom you will serve..." (Joshua 24:15, ESV) I like the fact that i can act like a "good Samaritan" and be rewarded for my choices. Anyway, the article on Good Karma is a good read IMO.
This whole financial meltdown has me getting irritated at the whole process here in America. I swear, sometimes politicians are so paralyzed by fear of what people think that they fail to actually lead. I am not going to post what my personal feelings are on this whole debacle because i am not an expert in such things. I just get so frustrated by the partisan politics on both sides of the aisle. Sometimes people have to act in ways that are not popular in order to move the greater good forward.
This weekend we are having our local church retreat. Over time it has become less theological in the focus of discussions (or break out seasons), but the time of fellowship with other church members is why we go more than anything. It is a time of fellowship, service to others, and very little sleep to be had. :) I am sure I will pay for this weekend into next week, but it will be worth it.
On a last note, on a whim i searched Facebook for an old high school friend last night, and i found him! I am nervous because we drifted apart over the years and others have sort of come into our lives, possibly whispered in our ears, and driven wedges. I hope not, but it's possible. This man was always an honorable person when i knew him over twenty years ago. I've read over what he has made public on Facebook, as well as a link he had for a My Space page he has for a group he plays in. It would seem we could still have somethings in common. We shall see what God has in store.
Verse for today:
Psalm 126 : 1-3, ESV
When the Lord restored the fortunes of Zion,
we were like those who dream.
Then our mouth was filled with laughter,
and our tongue with shouts of joy;
then they said among the nations,
“The Lord has done great things for them.”
The Lord has done great things for us;
we are glad.
I already blogged about last weekends disappointing lost so i will not 'bleed' that wound any more. :) This weekend has the Atlanta Falcons coming into Charlotte. The odds makers have the Panthers at 7 point favorites. Now, the base line is based off of stats and seems reasonable, but that all goes out the window once the first ball is kicked off. Atlanta is coming off some impressive wins against the Detroit Lions (who recently fired their president) and the Kansas City Chiefs, and also a loss to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Right now i'd like to think that the Panthers are more like the Bucs than not, but i think this week will tell the tale. I think last week was more of an example of the chemistry taking time to re-gel between Jake Delhomme and Steve Smith. Not that it will just click over the past week, but it should improve. Also, the Panthers have a tendency to not really kick in the gear until November, December. Not something i am really happy about.
I am continuing to count down the days until i can get my hands on Fallout 3. Only 32 more days until the game is released. Now, honestly, i am content to wait. I am not sitting on my hands trying to contain this bottled up excitement, but i am looking forward to it. Over on a site known an IGN they are running a series of articles. Some basic stuff like what weapons are available in the game, what different kind of skills and 'perks' there are, but the article from yesterday caught attention. One thing Bethesda Software is really proud of is the fact that you can go "anywhere" and do "anything" you want. Of course that is a slight exaggeration, but it would appear that this is larger than most. Now i know many would not like the fact that some one playing the game can pull out a pistol and shoot another character in the game in cold blood, but to me this is no different than the world we live in now. We are all presented choices everyday. "...choose this day whom you will serve..." (Joshua 24:15, ESV) I like the fact that i can act like a "good Samaritan" and be rewarded for my choices. Anyway, the article on Good Karma is a good read IMO.
This whole financial meltdown has me getting irritated at the whole process here in America. I swear, sometimes politicians are so paralyzed by fear of what people think that they fail to actually lead. I am not going to post what my personal feelings are on this whole debacle because i am not an expert in such things. I just get so frustrated by the partisan politics on both sides of the aisle. Sometimes people have to act in ways that are not popular in order to move the greater good forward.
This weekend we are having our local church retreat. Over time it has become less theological in the focus of discussions (or break out seasons), but the time of fellowship with other church members is why we go more than anything. It is a time of fellowship, service to others, and very little sleep to be had. :) I am sure I will pay for this weekend into next week, but it will be worth it.
On a last note, on a whim i searched Facebook for an old high school friend last night, and i found him! I am nervous because we drifted apart over the years and others have sort of come into our lives, possibly whispered in our ears, and driven wedges. I hope not, but it's possible. This man was always an honorable person when i knew him over twenty years ago. I've read over what he has made public on Facebook, as well as a link he had for a My Space page he has for a group he plays in. It would seem we could still have somethings in common. We shall see what God has in store.
Verse for today:
Psalm 126 : 1-3, ESV
When the Lord restored the fortunes of Zion,
we were like those who dream.
Then our mouth was filled with laughter,
and our tongue with shouts of joy;
then they said among the nations,
“The Lord has done great things for them.”
The Lord has done great things for us;
we are glad.
20080923
Tongue tied Tuesday
Very first thing... i want to say thank you to Alise for pointing out that the song i chose for Music Monday was not written by Micheal W Smith, but actually Kelly Carpenter. I made the appropriate changes - thanks Alise! \o
I am actually not really very sure what to blog about (as usual), so this will be yet another rambling blog entry. I hope it is helpful to someone other than myself - if anyone else actually reads it. lol
The Panthers had the wind knocked out of them on Sunday. After the Panthers managed to jump out and get a 10 point lead it was all over once Antoine Winfield came in on a cornerback blitz and level Jake Delhomme. The resulting fumble return for a TD swung the momentum so much that the Panthers never got back into the game mentally. I know Steve Smith returned and all, but it still takes time to get the team back in sync when you change an integral cog like that. Now if the wheels come off this Sunday against the Falcons, i will ramp up the ol' concern-o-meter.
Last week i had to replace the family home computer. In the end, the cost to repair the three year old machine was going to be more than a new one. The headache comes in that i am having to re-install several programs, and replace the printer cable. Now one would think that such an easy fix would be taken care of fairly quickly. Not so in the samurai dojo - no! Finally i gave up searching all of the local and neighboring towns. I just went ahead and ordered a 25-pin to USB cable on-line.
My deck is still in limbo. After getting the eight holes dug, changing the design because of obstacles, and getting all of the lumber ordered and delivered, i am at a stand still. It dawned on me that I am going to have make the support posts a certain height, and i know where i want the deck to be at height-wise, so i subtract the decking, the joists, and the support beams and that comes to 12.5" - oh, and the beam brackets that mount the posts to the cement footers... it ends up that I am going to have to 'un-sod' the area and perhaps even remove a layer of top soil. I can do it, it's just sort of brought my "building train" to a halt short of the station. Apparently change just throws me. lol
During my recent cable quest i found a laptop that might be good for what i am looking for. It was for about $200 less than i was prepared to pay so i checked my budget and realized that i might be able to afford it in a week or two. Well, wouldn't you know, when i went back to get it they were all sold out. The salesman failed to inform me that it was on sale. :/ Such is life - lol. One thing i think i have come to realize is that God is in control and that when i find something i am looking for, i don't necessarily have to pick it upright then if i am not ready for it. I can actually wait. This is a big thing for me.
With not having been to the gym since last Friday i forced myself to get up and get out there today, and i paid for it. Ever try and run with a head full of flem? You might as well put a pro-mask on and run. There's just no way to get enough oxygen in your lungs. When i run i use interval training - that is periods of running fast, and periods of running slower - well today i had to drop the slow jog in favor of just a plain ol' walk so that i could catch my breath. I guess it's better than nothing, but i am paying for it now. This morning i have been trying to cough up both of my lungs in an effort to remove the congestion from my chest. The good news is that, although the flem is trying to latch on again, my head is fairly clear.
Verse for today:
Proverbs 23 : 1-5, ESV
When you sit down to eat with a ruler,
observe carefully what [1] is before you,
and put a knife to your throat
if you are given to appetite.
Do not desire his delicacies,
for they are deceptive food.
Do not toil to acquire wealth;
be discerning enough to desist.
When your eyes light on it, it is gone,
for suddenly it sprouts wings,
flying like an eagle toward heaven.
The Panthers had the wind knocked out of them on Sunday. After the Panthers managed to jump out and get a 10 point lead it was all over once Antoine Winfield came in on a cornerback blitz and level Jake Delhomme. The resulting fumble return for a TD swung the momentum so much that the Panthers never got back into the game mentally. I know Steve Smith returned and all, but it still takes time to get the team back in sync when you change an integral cog like that. Now if the wheels come off this Sunday against the Falcons, i will ramp up the ol' concern-o-meter.
Last week i had to replace the family home computer. In the end, the cost to repair the three year old machine was going to be more than a new one. The headache comes in that i am having to re-install several programs, and replace the printer cable. Now one would think that such an easy fix would be taken care of fairly quickly. Not so in the samurai dojo - no! Finally i gave up searching all of the local and neighboring towns. I just went ahead and ordered a 25-pin to USB cable on-line.
My deck is still in limbo. After getting the eight holes dug, changing the design because of obstacles, and getting all of the lumber ordered and delivered, i am at a stand still. It dawned on me that I am going to have make the support posts a certain height, and i know where i want the deck to be at height-wise, so i subtract the decking, the joists, and the support beams and that comes to 12.5" - oh, and the beam brackets that mount the posts to the cement footers... it ends up that I am going to have to 'un-sod' the area and perhaps even remove a layer of top soil. I can do it, it's just sort of brought my "building train" to a halt short of the station. Apparently change just throws me. lol
During my recent cable quest i found a laptop that might be good for what i am looking for. It was for about $200 less than i was prepared to pay so i checked my budget and realized that i might be able to afford it in a week or two. Well, wouldn't you know, when i went back to get it they were all sold out. The salesman failed to inform me that it was on sale. :/ Such is life - lol. One thing i think i have come to realize is that God is in control and that when i find something i am looking for, i don't necessarily have to pick it upright then if i am not ready for it. I can actually wait. This is a big thing for me.
With not having been to the gym since last Friday i forced myself to get up and get out there today, and i paid for it. Ever try and run with a head full of flem? You might as well put a pro-mask on and run. There's just no way to get enough oxygen in your lungs. When i run i use interval training - that is periods of running fast, and periods of running slower - well today i had to drop the slow jog in favor of just a plain ol' walk so that i could catch my breath. I guess it's better than nothing, but i am paying for it now. This morning i have been trying to cough up both of my lungs in an effort to remove the congestion from my chest. The good news is that, although the flem is trying to latch on again, my head is fairly clear.
Verse for today:
Proverbs 23 : 1-5, ESV
When you sit down to eat with a ruler,
observe carefully what [1] is before you,
and put a knife to your throat
if you are given to appetite.
Do not desire his delicacies,
for they are deceptive food.
Do not toil to acquire wealth;
be discerning enough to desist.
When your eyes light on it, it is gone,
for suddenly it sprouts wings,
flying like an eagle toward heaven.
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