I'm getting to where I even use to term "church" very loosely, because the things I see resemble very little about the church in Acts. I found this safe haven several years ago somewhere in Vermont and just had to have a pic made. This post was inspired by THIS POST over at Rick and Christie's. You can also tell by my sidebar that I have a certain amount of disdain for bad church signs, and speaking of, be sure to check out my new one for the week.-->

I took some guys to Panama this Monday and we ended up at Starbucks. That's right, PC has a Starbucks on the corner of 77 and 23rd in the parking lot of the Mall. I've never really seen the big deal about the place, just another coffee shop right? An upscale Dakota's right? Actually I prefer the decor of Dakota's but that's neither here nor there. It was very crowded in the small store and I don't like being cramped with a bunch of strangers. I ordered my frozed mocha(because I can't handle hot stuff and I don't know much about coffee drinks other than they smell good and mocha means chocolate) and then, oh my friends then I found out what the big deal is about Starbucks. I'll be back. Soon.

Ever wander over to crosswalk.com? I use this site pretty much everday, mostly just for the online Bible-In-A-Year. It gives you a new reading each day and charts your progress if you so choose. You can pick from many different translations. I highly recommend it.

...new book and bad church sign. This book is incredible and I recommend it to everyone in ministry. It was recommended to me by a friend and I got to read a little bit of it while at my in-laws house. I read it while out hunting and it was time well spent. I got it thru CBD as soon as I got back and have been tapping my fingers until it finally arrived this past Friday. I can't put it down. Different strokes for different folks they say, but this has been far more influential for me than the Purpose Driven material.

I feel like I've been spinning my wheels a bit lately, but now the direction is clear. I'm excited about the future around here.

Well, looks like things are getting back to normal finally! I was sick but got over mine pretty quickly. JonMichael had 2 ear infections, got over those and started getting 2 new teeth and had bad fever with that. Audra was hit pretty hard with the general crud and ended up having some sickness whose name I can't remember, but it's when the lining of your lungs is worn down and inflamed so she was in a lot of pain. She's doing well now. I've spent a lot of time at home lately and am glad to be back a work!

We just had our first encounter with Poison Control! JonMichael got into his ear drops and was chewing on the dropper. Everything is fine, just a little extra drool to clean up. Oh the joys...

On an up note, I got all my music back.

If someone wrote a bunch of swear words I'd sign my name to each and every one of them. I keep all my music on my computer to play with iTunes...and it has all dissappeared. I was editing a video and tried to add a song and now everything is gone.

Short article about a preacher dying at the end of his sermon. Pretty interesting.

"And when I go to heaven...." then he died.

Went to the doctor this morning. 1 breathing treatment, 2 shots, and 2 prescriptions later I'm not sure but I may be feeling worse than before.

This post over on the Cranium Threads got me to thinking about this subject. Oddly enough, I actually had a conversation in my mind about this recently. I work at a church that is very relaxed as far as dress is concerned. I wear flip-flops every day, sandals if I feel like I need to dress up. I've been on the other side though, where I felt like I had to dress the part. I understand that ministers have certain expectations placed on them and have no problem with that. Concerning dress I would never show up to work in cut-offs and a tank-top, I know what too casual is. But I never want to be in a place again where someone would feel uncomfortable wearing jeans and t-shirt to worship. I feel like I am free to be myself and minister/work/worship best when these are not issues, and I have told myself that I will not serve in a place that is confined by these things. I hear the comments starting to formulate in your brains..."Follow the Holy Spirit, go where He leads, don't be a stumbling block, all things to all people." I agree. Yet in most of the time I think we take the all things to all people out of context because the way we use it, well, it's impossible. If my church expects me to dress up for them, then I can't be casual(real everyday world) with the guy off the street. Oil and water. I won't play the part for the religionists(healthy and in no need of a doctor), I will be real for the lost(sick and in need of a doctor). Church isn't a place you go, it's something you live each day.

No, not JonMichael, I'm talking about Audra and I. Baby Step 1 was done before we knew we were taking baby steps. Baby step 2 was accomplished yesterday! This was such a huge relief and cause for celebration. Step 3 will be finished in a year and a half, that just blows my mind, and 4 will only take an additional year which blows what little bit was left of my mind after realizing 3 would be reached in a year and a half. And then, on to the good stuff...

Curious what I'm talking about? You should have read the book I talked about a couple of months ago. If you ask, I'll give specifics, and you'll probably want to know more.

mario mosaic out of stickys

The Cuban boy who was rescued by fishermen on Thanksgiving day in '99 only to be taken at gunpoint and brought back to Cuba? Well he's a national hero in Cuba today with his own government run website. My spainish is rusty, but it appears to be some heavy propaganda. How did I come across this random bite? Well I was on a "Whatever Happened To...?" website looking for Vanilla Ice. Scary I know, don't try to get too far into my brain.

I just posted the link and order number so that you could track my recent order from Tiger Direct. I always get such a kick out of doing that. However, after realizing I needed to give you my order number and then realizing that someone might be able to call UPS and have my order re-routed to their sneaky selves, I deleted the post. Sorry that I can't share my simple pleasure with you. If you know me personally then you can email me and I'll be happy to share that confidential information with you.

i'm home

Been gone for a week and a half and it's great to be back home. I love to travel, but it's always nice to be back home. Christmas was spent in Crestview with Audra's family, always fun. Didn't see any deer but hope to when we go back on Thursday. Last week was spent in and around Asheville, NC while on our ski trip. Thinking of heading to West Virginia next year. It was great fun and I brought home the flu. Thankfully it didn't hit me till we pulled in to PSJ.

You would think that after that much time away, I would have more to write about, but I don't.

Check out my new bad church sign and book.-->