The last of the 2006 entries

I might have more, but I am not sure. I have been busy here at work, busy at home. Working on customer issues, working on my short stories, working on things at home. Last night I replaced our aging minivan. A nice Sienna. I hate dealing with car dealers. It's a necessary thing at times - well maybe. But that's over. The funny thing is I was rambling about the things going on... refinancing the house, buying the car, the kids birthdays, Christmas, my anniversary... the lady actually said, "are you crazy!" I think she actually got scared, but I laughed it off. She did not bother me - because it is insane at times. :) Well, the Panthers go on the road to play the Falcons. Their shot at the playoffs are very, very slim - but I am a realist. They have to beat both the Falcons and the Saints and still need some help. On the way home form the car place I kept thinking how much I am blessed. "To whom much is given, much is required."... am I being a faithful steward of what He has provided? Am I passing the test of prosperity? Updates: None Verse for today: Luke 12:43-48, ESV Blessed is that servant [9] whom his master will find so doing when he comes. Truly, I say to you, he will set him over all his possessions. But if that servant says to himself, ‘My master is delayed in coming,’ and begins to beat the male and female servants, and to eat and drink and get drunk, the master of that servant will come on a day when he does not expect him and at an hour he does not know, and will cut him in pieces and put him with the unfaithful. And that servant who knew his master's will but did not get ready or act according to his will, will receive a severe beating. But the one who did not know, and did what deserved a beating, will receive a light beating. Everyone to whom much was given, of him much will be required, and from him to whom they entrusted much, they will demand the more.

I would rather spit blood

Ok, maybe it's not that bad - but it's close. We are in the market for a replacement vehicle for the family van. The old one is doing ok, but it's starting to cough. A 1995 Previa with 189K miles. The interior looks worse than it is because the kids, but it's in pretty good shape. The hard part is the negotiation with the dealer. I have calls into four different dealers - none of them want to quote a price, but we've managed to pry prices from three out of four of them and the last one is promising to meet or beat - as long as I walk onto their lot. That's not going to happen. In anyevent... it's been a long day, and tomorrow will be longer, but after that I am on vacation until after New Year's. God Bless... Updates: none Verse for today: Jeremiah 9:23-24, ESV Thus says the Lord: “Let not the wise man boast in his wisdom, let not the mighty man boast in his might, let not the rich man boast in his riches, but let him who boasts boast in this, that he understands and knows me, that I am the Lord who practices steadfast love, justice, and righteousness in the earth. For in these things I delight, declares the Lord.”

It happened again

My poor beloved. She is having coughing fits again. I asked her to go to the doctors yesterday but she was "too busy". Well, after a night of me having to go back down to the couch to sleep I am hoping she goes this afternoon. I hear some of the kids with a cough but it is not nearly as bad. I know I too have been dealing with congestion, but nothing like she has been dealing with. The samurai family here is in the market for a newused car. I really do not like car shopping. While using the WWW to shop around there have been a few cases of where I have had to enter my e-mail address in order to get a quote for a vehicle. Invariably (so far) the vehicle is priced much higher than comparable models and options that I am finding elsewhere. And I am usually told that this price is a "special internet price". The thing I like even less is that now that I've entered my e-mail address I am getting e-mails from the sales-people. I know this is how they earn their living but it is frustrating to me. Mostly because I do not know who to trust, who is trying to take advantage of me. In a recent e-mail I replied telling the man that I do not want to try and negotiate - I want his best price on the table. If it's a comparable price then I will take another look. Otherwise I will just cross it off my list and move on. Oh, before I forget... I highly recommend getting a 30 day trial to the CarFax service! There was one van that looked really enticing. Great price, low mileage, recent model, even a color we would like... checked it out on CarFax and it had two accidents... one of which was enough to cause the vehicle to be declared a 'salvage'! Needless to say that one was crossed off the list. :) I watched 'Studio 60' again last night. I enjoy the whit and the interaction with the charecters - but it just gnaws at me how the writter(s) look for new ways to make digs at Christianity. I know if those digs were directed at certain other religions there would most likely be death threats. I have to run for today... God Bless you all... Updates: None Verse for today: 1 Corinthians 15:12-20, ESV Now if Christ is proclaimed as raised from the dead, how can some of you say that there is no resurrection of the dead? But if there is no resurrection of the dead, then not even Christ has been raised. And if Christ has not been raised, then our preaching is in vain and your faith is in vain. We are even found to be misrepresenting God, because we testified about God that he raised Christ, whom he did not raise if it is true that the dead are not raised. For if the dead are not raised, not even Christ has been raised. And if Christ has not been raised, your faith is futile and you are still in your sins. Then those also who have fallen asleep in Christ have perished. If in this life only we have hoped in Christ, we are of all people most to be pitied. But in fact Christ has been raised from the dead, the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep.

Stick a fork in 'em - they're done

Man! That was a good old fashined butt stompin'! The Steelers manhandled the Panthers yesterday. IMO the team has basically quit. I don't think I realized how much of an impact Dan Morgan had played in the middle of the defense. The defense really needs some more run defense... and a consistant O-line. Five sacks! Come on. Oh well. Looking back, of the games I was looking forward to back in August... at least the Panthers won one of those games! LOL Yesterday, and I am still not sure how this happened, but we got sucked into "Everest, Beyond the Limit" on the Discovery Channel. I have a severe amount of respect - and bewilderment - for anyone who would want to climb that mountain. There is a part of me that wants to be one of those people. The ones that go out and climb Everest - or work those extreme jobs. But then God quietly reminds me about all that He has given me. A nice family, a home to live in, enough money to pay the bills (mostly), chances to serve others... that sort of thing. Then I remember that I don't need to do those things and I should be thankful. :) One thought did come to mind while watching that show last night... exactly how tall was the tower of Babel? And yet man has come a long way since then. I think man is more arrogant now, more prideful. When it comes time... I fear for how far and how hard the fall will be... Updates: I added Part 2 for the last chapter and I am already working on Chapter 8 for the 'juve thread' over on my Yarns page. I've not added anything to my Hiku page in some time... maybe over vacation... Verse for today: Revelations 17:9-14, ESV This calls for a mind with wisdom: the seven heads are seven mountains on which the woman is seated; they are also seven kings, five of whom have fallen, one is, the other has not yet come, and when he does come he must remain only a little while. As for the beast that was and is not, it is an eighth but it belongs to the seven, and it goes to destruction. And the ten horns that you saw are ten kings who have not yet received royal power, but they are to receive authority as kings for one hour, together with the beast. These are of one mind and hand over their power and authority to the beast. They will make war on the Lamb, and the Lamb will conquer them, for he is Lord of lords and King of kings, and those with him are called and chosen and faithful.”

Be anxious for nothing

That is what the Bible says. And I know why it says that. If I know God - which I believe I know Him as much as He has revealed Himself to me. If we trust Him - if we call the Lord Jesus Savior - then we know all things are in His ultimate control. He may allow circumstances to go in ways we do not prefer, or enjoy, or understand... but He is ultimately in control. And He works all things - both good and ill - for the ultimate good of our soul. Last night we opened up our monthly bank statement to find a debit for over $800. A bill I had payed on-line but failed to record. *sigh* It was kind of a punch in the gut because we were not expecting that. We failed to record the information and now we are staring down birthday #2 (of three in three months) and Christmas with a lot less money than we expected. Well, I think you get the idea. As a result I have caused my beloved no small amount of consternation. How do I teach such a truth as 'do not be anxious' when I am the one causing it? Updates: Another chapter posted in my 'Yarns' page Verse for today: Matthew 6 : 25-34, ESV “Therefore I tell you, do not be anxious about your life, what you will eat or what you will drink, nor about your body, what you will put on. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothing? Look at the birds of the air: they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more value than they? And which of you by being anxious can add a single hour to his span of life? [7] And why are you anxious about clothing? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow: they neither toil nor spin, yet I tell you, even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these. But if God so clothes the grass of the field, which today is alive and tomorrow is thrown into the oven, will he not much more clothe you, O you of little faith? Therefore do not be anxious, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ For the Gentiles seek after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them all. But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you. “Therefore do not be anxious about tomorrow, for tomorrow will be anxious for itself. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble.

Throwing my hat over the fence

The same guy who 'commisioned' me to write some short stories was still looking for a few more. He had a 100 page piece that he was getting ready to throw out. So far I've sent him five stories - and then this week I commited to a 2000 - 3000 word piece! I have the idea and a rough outline - but that's it. I am also questioning my point of view but I am going to push it forward and see what plays out. I'd like to thank 'WMD' for being an inspiration - and to 'AP' for her tireless willingness to read my drivel and help me make corrections. It's insane here at work again today. We had a major 'incident' here at work yesterday and there is still residuals today. That, along with us gearing up for a major conversion coming up (a nine to twelve month project) is just consuming a lot of time. I will be going to my fifth meeting today in a few minutes. Updates: None Verse for today: Proverb 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.

A legacy worth leaving?

You will have to pardon the typing this morning... I was 'interupted' from my slumber for work this morning and my mind is feeling a little fuzzy right now. :) Well, while being on the conference call (for the past 4 1/2 hours) I was thinking... if there is one thing I would like to impress upon my children is that when you make a mistake own up to it. I don't care if it's a spilled glass of milk or a piece of laundry left on the floor - or something major. Mistakes are a defining moment of charecter. Own up to them. Tell someone when you made a mistake. Then as the dust settles evaluate that mistake. Learn from it. See what you could have done better - and be honest with yourself. Not all factors may lie with you, but be honest and don't stop there. Look at the entire situation - evaluate it like a rubix cube. Identify where you have erred and seek to improve in that area. I've heard the statement, "ameatuers practice until they get it right, professionals practice until they can't get it wrong". What a profound statement... and one that I do not always take to heart in my own life either. Updates: some minor link maintenance... I think I might start a weekly 'link highlight'. LOL Verse for today: Psalm 62 : 5-8, ESV For God alone, O my soul, wait in silence, for my hope is from him. He only is my rock and my salvation, my fortress; I shall not be shaken. On God rests my salvation and my glory; my mighty rock, my refuge is God. Trust in him at all times, O people; pour out your heart before him;God is a refuge for us. Selah