Mind Mullings

Yes, I'm still here!

2009-10-27T20:55:00.003-06:00

After a bit of a blog vacation, I'm back at it...at least for tonight. Here is my latest rant.......

We all pay it. We don't have much choice. Yup, Colorado Registration Fee's. Trucks, trailers, skid loaders, even large mowers are required to have a Colorado License Plate.

So get this. This year all registrations have increased in cost...to the tune of almost 150%. Here is an example of a small flatbed trailer I own:

2006- $16.91
2007- $18.91
2008- $18.91
2009- $42.41

Figure 9 different items that require a license plate and you do the math. A 150% increase in one year? No thanks Governor Bill Riter. Oh, and we get to look forward to increases each year thru 2012...

Afternoon Pictures

2009-06-14T22:43:00.003-06:00

"The promise of the rainbow is found not in cloudless skies, but in the midst of the storm."

Softball

2009-06-08T22:01:00.002-06:00

Here is an amazing picture my dad got from softball on Saturday. And yes I made the catch! Great picture dad!

Cannon Beach

2009-06-02T21:08:00.004-06:00

I had the opportunity to go to the beach outside of Portland this past weekend. Here are a couple of pictures!

Barr trailhead

2009-05-15T23:32:00.000-06:00

Sad news for those of us who hike here on occasion...

THE GAZETTE

The Manitou Springs City Council voted unanimously on Tuesday to approve the final version of an ordinance that will allow fees for parking at the Barr trailhead.

Parking in the small dirt lot at the end of Hydro Street, which serves both Barr Trail and the Manitou Incline, has always been free.

Fines were set at the Tuesday meeting -- $15 for overtime parkers and $25 for unpermitted parkers -- but the fee will be set at a later Council meeting, after the city's parking authority makes recommendations.

"There's been everything from $1 to $10 bandied around, but nothing official," City Planner Michelle Anthony said.

Deputy City Administrator Mike Leslie said the city hopes to have the new fee structure in place by Memorial Day, May 25.

88 million

2009-05-13T21:24:00.003-06:00

88 million votes? Seriously? 88 million people voted for the next American Idol and its not even the final yet?

WOW.

I flipped on the TV tonight (which is a rarity in my world) and saw the last half of Idol. What is so appealing about that show? Watching it for 30 minutes I pondered why everyone is so "into" idol. I sometimes turn on the radio in the morning and it seems like every station is talking about the latest idol buzz.

Do we as Christians buy into the Idol mantra? Do we cling to a little not-so-respectable sin such as Idol gossip? Does it become an idol in our lives?

We so often try to find things in life to fulfill us, when nothing and no one can ever fill us, except for Christ. American "Idols" come and go. Fame is fleeting. But Christ is everlasting. As hard as we try, none but Christ can satisfy.

Who is your idol?

Personality Test

2009-05-11T13:50:00.004-06:00

Extroverted (E) 74.07% Introverted (I) 25.93%
Sensing (S) 69.23% Intuitive (N) 30.77%
Thinking (T) 57.14% Feeling (F) 42.86%
Judging (J) 58.82% Perceiving (P) 41.18%

ESTJ - "Administrator". Much in touch with the external environment. Very responsible. Pillar of strength. 8.7% of total population.

Free Jung Personality Test (similar to Myers-Briggs/MBTI)

FREE KFC

2009-05-06T09:09:00.002-06:00

Check out this free coupon to try the new grilled KFC.

http://www.unthinkfc.com/

Quoteable

2009-04-24T07:02:00.001-06:00

"Living to glorify God means doing everything...
for Him,
His way,
to point to His greatness
and reflect His goodness."

Salesman of the year

2009-04-17T13:23:00.001-06:00

Here we go again...

2009-04-16T13:44:00.000-06:00

Although an extremely dry first couple of months in 2009, winter has finally showed up here in April. Gotta love springtime in the Rockies!

Tough Love vs. Spanking - Good Argument

2009-04-09T08:09:00.000-06:00

Most of America 's populace think it improper to spank children, so I have tried other methods to control my kids when they have one of 'those moments.'

One that I found effective is for me to just take the child for a car ride and talk.

Some say it's the vibration from the car, others say it's the time away from any distractions such as TV, Video Games, Computer, iPod, etc.

Either way, my kids usually calm down and stop misbehaving after our car ride together.

I've included a photo below of one of my sessions with my son, in case you would like to use the technique.

Sincerely,
Your Friend

I think this will work with grandchildren, nieces, and nephews as well.

Samson and the ladies

2009-04-08T08:22:00.005-06:00

Samson had a problem. He liked the ladies. In fact, we see him struggle with this throughout his life. In Judges chapter 14 we read about Samson's first marriage which didn't last but a week. Samson's relationship with this young Philistine woman was characterized by selfishness. Verse three reads: "But Samson said to his father, go get her for me. She's the right one for me." Later we read: "then he (Samson) went down and talked with the woman and he liked her."

"She's the right one for me." Did you catch it? You see, Samson was asking the wrong question. To him it was all about him. Will she please me? Will she fulfill all my needs? Do I like her? Is she the right one for me?

Instead of boisterously stating "she's the one for me" Samson should have been humbly pondering: "Am I the right one for her." Samson didn't have a proper understanding of marriage, hence why his marriages always ended in chaos.

Marriage is not about finding the right one, but being the right one.

Before saying "I do" will you ask the right question?

Here In Your Presence

2009-04-02T08:38:00.002-06:00

Take a look at this song called Here In Your Presence written by Jon Egan:

Found in Your hands, fullness of joy
Every fear suddenly wiped away here in Your presence
All of my gains now fade away
Every crown no longer on display, here inYour presence
Heaven in trembling in awe of Your wonders
the kings and their kingdom arestanding amazed

Chorus:
Here in Your presence, we are undone
Here in Your presence, Heaven and Earth become one
Here in Your presence, all things are new
Here in Your presence, everything bows before You

Bridge:
Wonderful, beautiful, glorious, matchlessin every way
Wonderful, beautiful, glorious, matchlessin every way
Wonderful, beautiful, glorious, matchlessin every way
Wonderful, beautiful, glorious, matchlessin every way

What do you think of the lyrics? I really love this song. Most of the lyrics are right-on and something about the music really invades my innermost being.

One line that has stood out to me lately is "Heaven is trembling in awe of your wonders." Do you think heaven is trembling?

Its going, going, gone...

2009-04-01T23:34:00.004-06:00

Well the latest spring snow storm is over. Pretty disappointing storm. Came and went quickly leaving lots of ice and little actual snow accumulation. Roads in the morning (Thursday) will be icy until the sun starts warming things up. By tomorrow night this storm will be nothing but a distant memory =)

In other weather news, the storm for Saturday is tracking further to the north than originally predicted so don't expect any huge blizzard for Saturday. Areas in north/northeastern El Paso County will still get some wind and snow but the majority of C/S will miss out on the bulk of the storm. I like trying my hand at this whole meteorology thing because I probably get it right as much as the actual meteroligists.

Here is a picture from last weeks' blizzard:

Let it Snow

2009-03-26T09:14:00.002-06:00

Free food!

2009-03-18T21:42:00.000-06:00

http://www.krdo.com/Global/link.asp?L=377921

Creation

2009-02-24T23:28:00.003-07:00

A friend of mine sent this to me. It is a foal less than 5 minutes after birth. Ah, the glory of God's creation is incredible.

Quality Video Animation

2009-02-22T23:32:00.003-07:00

If only he had a stronger message/conclusions at the end...

Deal of the Day

2009-02-20T10:46:00.003-07:00

20 free prints today only at Walgreens.com

Enter the promo code: ONEDAY

Select the store nearest you to pickup the prints.

What are you delighting in?

2009-02-19T08:41:00.000-07:00

Intersections to appraoch with a little extra caution

2009-02-17T20:32:00.002-07:00

The City of Colorado Springs has released annual statistics about the city's worst intersections for traffic accidents, and it appears that accident numbers have continued to decrease for the third year.

The city ranks the most accident-prone intersections based on traffic volume, the number of accidents and accident severity. The higher the score, the worse the intersection.

Last year's top 10 top accident-prone intersections were:

1.) Briargate Parkway and Powers Boulevard

2.) Palmer Park Boulevard and Space Center Drive

3.) Rangewood and Vickers drives

4.) Nevada Avenue and Southgate Road

5.) Lake Avenue and Venetucci Boulevard

6.) N. Powers Boulevard and Research Parkway

7.) Barnes Road and Powers Boulevard

8.) N. Carefree Circle and Tutt Boulevard

9.) Fountain and Union boulevards

10.) Airport Road and Academy Boulevard

Source: CSBJ Daily

Sunday Quotes

2009-02-16T07:34:00.001-07:00

"The world is run by tired men and women"

"If you hear any strange squeaks from my voice, it is something like reverse puberty"

Biblical history from a five-year old: "Pharaoh stoned Jesus and then hung him on the cross"

Reflections...

2009-02-15T21:00:00.007-07:00

The mood inside the car was as dark as it was outside.The tone was silent, the atmosphere stoic. She stared aimlessly out the passenger window looking positively disinterested. He was focused on his driving; one hand firmly on the wheel, the other in his lap. The conversation had long since ended; it was apparent they were tired of one anther's company.

As the green Suburban sped into the night, I couldn't help but wonder about the couple inside. Apparently on their way home after a Valentines night together, they both looked disinterested in the entire evening. Possibly, they were no longer finding meaning and fulfillment in their marriage.

While one could speculate on the possible reasons for their lack of interest in each other, one truth is clear. Whether we are married or single we will never find our meaning simply in marriage. We must find our meaning and purpose in Christ alone. None other can satisfy. The world tries a myriad of ways to find meaning in life (including, but not limited to marriage,) but we as Christians know our meaning in life must start on the foundation of relationship with our Lord.

God at Work in Mexico-5

2009-02-14T12:34:00.006-07:00

Upon leaving the Pima’s we traversed back to Rio Chico for the night before driving back to Ciudad Juárez and El Paso the next day. It was an incredible blessing for me to be able to go on this trip. My picture of Mexico and the ministry down there will be forever changed.

The vision, heart, and ministry of Pastor Tomas is truly amazing. He works tirelessly spreading the gospel and training pastors.

Now at this point you might be thinking “well this is all fine and good, but what does it mean for me?” Let me encourage you in two ways:

If you have never been on the Mexico trip, join the team going down this coming June. It will change your life.
Maybe you can’t go. Pastor Tomas’s church in Warez supports all of these above mentioned ministries to the Indians. These ministries require constant funding and these funds are changing lives and generations. When you write a check you aren’t just sending money to some organization, these are REAL people with REAL needs, and REAL lives. This fact struck me anew. I had no idea of the ministries that are happening in the mountains of Mexico. So give and give generously. The Mexicans put us to shame when it comes to giving. Did you know they give 25-30 percent of their income? Wow. Pray about what God would have you give.

By sharing this brief overview of what God is doing in Mexico I pray you now have a better idea of the ministry that happens day after day, week after week, and month after month.

Go. Give. Pray. God is doing great things in the Copper Canyon.

All I Can Say Is "Wow"

2009-02-08T22:45:00.004-07:00

Quoteables

2009-02-06T19:52:00.000-07:00

"You can use an eraser
on the drafting table,
Or a sledgehammer
at the construction site."
-Frank Lloyd Wright

God at Work in Mexico-4

2009-02-05T23:57:00.000-07:00

The second half of our trip focused on the Pima Indians. The Pima Indians have been hostile in the past towards Christians and currently there are no known Pima Christians. So after a brief chat and prayer time on Thursday morning we headed to a remote Pima village. While in the town Madera, for lunch, we noticed a brake line leaking on one of the trucks. Praise the Lord we were in the largest town for miles so we could fix it before heading into very remote country. Because of this delay we didn’t get to the Pima village until late that night.

Awaking the next morning to an overcast and rainy sky we ventured out into the village. The Pimas are a tribe who are virtually unreached and even though there are no Pima Christians, Pastor Tomas is building a church in the middle of the village. How cool is that? The foundation of the church is done, so Kika (pictured in front of the church foundation below) and I took some measurements for the materials needed for the plumbing in the bathrooms. “Plumbing” in Mexico is a bit different than plumbing in the United States. But this church will be considered “nice” because it will have running water and flushable toilets.

Pastor Tomas' vision is to build a relationship with the Pima, reach out and share the gospel of Jesus Christ. We were able to help build this relationship with them through the Operation Christmas Child program. We took shoeboxes for all the kids. It was like a mad Christmas giveaway. The kids were quite excited and grateful for that one shoebox; understandably so because of the extreme poverty of the Pima. It seemed like most of the village turned out for the shoe boxes. What we think of as a small deal, was like a holiday to this village. Watching the kids receive and open the boxes is a memory I won’t soon forget--because relationships are being formed.

Seeing the hand of God at work is amazing...

God at Work in Mexico-3

2009-02-03T22:43:00.008-07:00

During our time with the Tarahumara we got to spend some time with the kids playing soccer, Uno, and teaching them how to play jump rope. They were excited to have fun with us; someone new to play with. Although I don’t speak hardly any Spanish, a smile and a high-five transcends all cultures.

After dinner and dishes, Pastor Tomas lead a devotional with us, the staff, and the kids. It was an awesome time of Spanish singing lead by one of the boys and hearing the Pastor’s heart. One of the amazing observations from the evening was the attentiveness of the children. They were swift to obey and followed instructions carefully. When Pastor Tomas spoke, they listened.

Our team spent the night on the floor of the school building before departing early the next morning. If there is one thing I learned last week it is that the three other guys on our team snore…loudly :-) We made it out of the canyon by 1pm and after waiting around for awhile jumped in the trucks and headed back to Rio Chico. That night we all got showers and I have never slept so good on a lumpy mattress.

God at Work in Mexico-2

2009-02-03T00:02:00.003-07:00

After our five-hour hike, we made it to the Tarahumara boarding school that Pastor Tomas founded in 2000. It is amazing to see what God has done there in the last 8 years. Around 40 kids stay at the school Monday through Friday; being fed spiritually and physically as well as learning general school subjects. The effort to get to the school makes one thankful for a square meal. It was incredibly touching to watch these 40 kids eat a good meal, something that many of them don’t get at their homes. The effort and work Pastor Tomas and his church in Mexico have put into this ministry is something I won’t soon forget. It costs around $3500 per month to feed the kids plus the salary of the three cooks/housekeepers, and the salary of the Pastor who is ministering there. The cost however, is irrelevant when you think of the ministry happening. How big of a difference will these 40 kids make in the next 40 years, to an Indian tribe that is virtually unreached?

I believe God is raising up a new generation in the Tarahumara tribe. Praise be to Him for all He has accomplished through Pastor Tomas, Brenda, and others. It takes a vast effort each and every week to keep the school running. It took us three days of driving and a day of hiking just to get there. The fact that they have a blossoming ministry to the Tarahumara is a testament to the hand of God.

God at Work in Mexico-1

2009-01-30T23:19:00.008-07:00

Last week I had the opportunity to go on a Mexico mission’s trip with a small team from my church. It was an incredible time seeing God at work with the Tarahumara and Pima Indians. The trip was strenuous in many ways but was worth every mile and every step. Our trip gained the nickname, a roadtrip through Mexico, as we drove many miles. In 9 days we spent about 64 hours in the car driving throughout the countryside and mountains of Mexico. Our trip began on a beautiful Sunday morning attending Pastor Joshua’s Mexican church in El Paso, before we crossed the border, stopped by the Bible Institute and headed for Rio Chico. Pastor Tomas and Brenda joined us in El Paso before we crossed the border. After sleeping at Rio Chico, loading up the trucks, and praying for a good week; we headed for the rim of Copper Canyon. As we drove through various small Mexican towns we stopped for groceries, hay, supplies, and fuel. Hence, Monday turned into a long day of driving before we finally arrived at Antonio’s casa, our base camp, for hiking into the canyon. Tuesday we awoke to clouds and light rain, but were thankful for the cool hiking weather.

The hike into copper canyon was the steepest hike I’ve ever done. In five hours we dropped 3200 feet to the river, crossed the river, and hiked 1200 feet back up the other side of the canyon. Copper Canyon, in comparison to the Grand Canyon, is in every sense a larger canyon and having no well-established trails. The intense sheer drops along with the amazing flora and fauna is breathtaking. Streams and waterfalls dot the landscape. Even though it is rugged, the canyon is beautiful far beyond what words can describe. The creation of our God is a stunning sight.

To be continued...

A look back...and forward

2009-01-16T22:58:00.005-07:00

Stop.

Look.

Listen.

Ponder.

Do you ever take time to reflect on what you have learned from your past experiences and think about how it will impact your life in the future? Do you ever take time to cast a vision for your future? Or do you go through life aimlessly going about your day with little thought for the future?

Often this time of year we hear about New Year resolutions and how we are going to change our lives, but how many of us truly keep those more than a couple of weeks? Maybe your most recent resolutions are already fading into a distant memory.

I believe the start of a new year is a great time to take a day or two and truly ponder your future. Cast a vision, set some specific achievable goals, and then put a plan into place to actually do it.

One year ago I did some of this vision casting in my own life. Looking back on the recently concluded year, I see some wonderful change and accomplishments in my life. In February I committed to running a marathon in October. After many months of training I was able complete the Chicago marathon by the grace of God. At the beginning of 2008 the Holy Spirit re-kindled a flame within me to help start a college and career ministry at our church. After much prayer and several meetings/discussions with like-minded young adults, ignite was born. And to this day I give praise to the Lord for how he has blessed this ministry...far beyond what I ever imagined.

I share with you these examples for two reasons. One, to bring glory to God through what HE has accomplished thru me the last 12 months. Two, to encourage you to set some specific goals and a plan for achieving them in your life for 2009.

The last couple of weeks I have been pondering this question for my life in 2009. What would the Lord have me focus my time and energy on? Among other things I have come up with three goals for the upcoming year:

Learn how to play the guitar
Read through the Bible
Go on a missions trip

How will you redeem your time in 09?

Think about it.

Slow Fade

2009-01-15T22:35:00.003-07:00

I heard this song(Slow Fade by Casting Crowns) on the radio as I drove home tonight. Listen to the words. Is the message of the song correct? Is it a "slow fade?"

Drive 65

2009-01-11T21:55:00.002-07:00

COLORADO SPRINGS - Sunday morning, CDOT (Colorado Department of Transportation) officially began raising the speed limit on I-25 through the city from 55 to 65 MPH. The change became effective at 8 a.m.

The first speed limit sign to be replaced was northbound just before the Cimarron Street exit. A crew of workers needed only a few minutes to make the switch. Workers planned to replace all 22 speed limit signs along the city stretch of the Interstate by the end of the day.

For someone who drives many miles, this story makes me a happy citizen! Anyone up for a round of the hallelujah chorus?

2009

2009-01-04T21:58:00.003-07:00

Happy New Year!

Busy, busy, busy. That has been the story over the past several weeks. In the upcoming months I hope to continue to post some things that have been mulling in my mind. Simply haven't had too much time to write blog posts recently. Among other things our church moved into a new building which meant many hours installing/learning new A/V equipment. There is still much to do but so far things have been smooth. Praise the Lord!

Three blog topics I hope to cover this month are:

A look back...and forward
Casting a vision
Plugging in

Stay tuned...

Alaskan Bear Hunting

2008-12-05T10:25:00.000-07:00

The Pope took a couple of days off to visit the mountains of Alaska for some sightseeing. He was cruising along the campground in the Pope-mobile when there was a frantic commotion just at the edge of the woods. A helpless Democrat, wearing sandals, shorts, a "Save the Whales" hat, and a "To Hell with Bush" T-shirt, was screaming while struggling frantically and thrashing around trying to free himself from the grasp of a 10-foot grizzly.

As the Pope watched in horror, a group of Republican oil field workers came racing up. One quickly fired a 44 magnum into the bear's chest. The other two reached up and pulled the bleeding, semiconscious Democrat from the bear's grasp Then using long clubs, the three oil field workers finished off the bear and two of them threw it onto the bed of their truck while the other tenderly placed the injured Democrat in the back seat.

As they prepared to leave, the Pope summoned them to come over. "I give you my blessing for your brave actions!" he told them. "I heard there was a bitter hatred between Republican oil field workers and Democratic Environmental activists but now I've seen with my own eyes that this is not true."
As the Pope drove off, one of the oilmen asked his buddies "Who was that guy?"
"It was the Pope," another replied. "He's in direct contact with heaven and has access to all wisdom."

"Well," the oilman said, "he may have access to all wisdom but he sure doesn't know anything about bear hunting! By the way, is the bait holding up, or do we need to go back to Illinois and get another one?"

Let it Snow

2008-12-01T15:30:00.002-07:00

Here are some snow totals from this past weekends unexpected blast of winter weather. I had a total of roughly 14 inches at my house in Black Forest.

"Oh Deer!"

2008-11-16T22:29:00.006-07:00

Deer were running throughout my property like rodents yesterday. I've come to realize taking good pictures of deer amongst trees/snow/sunlight/shadows is a tough task. Here are a few of the best ones!

"You can't shoot me"

2008-11-14T14:42:00.004-07:00

As mentioned in a previous post I went hunting last week. Unfortunately I didn't shoot anything or even see many animals. As if to rub it in a big 5x5 buck came around my house...

(click on the picture to make it larger)

Laugh for your election day

2008-11-04T19:36:00.001-07:00

Gone Hunting

2008-10-30T22:50:00.002-06:00

Going hunting this weekend in the beautiful Colorado Rocky Mountains. Here is a shot of Castle Peak from last year.

Can you hear me now?

2008-10-29T22:42:00.002-06:00

A friend sent this to me today...you have to watch the whole thing!

Campus Chaos Challenge #2: Completed

Marathon pictures- part 3

2008-10-20T22:29:00.003-06:00

Here are a couple of pictures Chad's wife and another family member spectator took. These are probably the best ones of us during the race!

This is pretty hilarious

2008-10-16T07:23:00.000-06:00

Marathon pictures- part 2

2008-10-14T10:24:00.007-06:00

The team eating dinner the night before the race

Notice the bib number on the confirmation ticket and the number behind Chad

At the expo

Time until the marathon started

Find Waldo...

Laser Teeth Whitening? At a race expo? Weird...

The Clif Bar Tent!

Random cool building

2008-10-14T10:15:00.001-06:00


Person
Bib#:	44171
Last Name:	Fisk
First Name:	Ben
City:	Elbert
State:	CO
CTZ:	USA
Age:	24
Gender:	M
TIME
5K:	0:30:42
10K:	0:59:59
15K:	1:29:43
20K:	1:59:20
HALF:	2:06:41
25K:	2:30:10
30K:	3:01:00
35K:	3:32:31
40K:	4:05:37
FINISH:	4:19:26
Chip Time:	4:19:26
Clock:	4:30:05
Pace / mile:	9:53
Placement
Overall:	10151
Gender:	7160
Division:	559

Marathon pictures- part 1

2008-10-13T18:51:00.008-06:00

(click on any of the pictures to make them larger)

Soon after completing 26.2 miles!

Steve and Chad

Running buddy Chad and me

The compilation of toe injuries--mine is the bloody one =(

A couple of hours after the marathon.

The four of us supporting the Alpha Foundation (notice the Alpha shirts)

Showing off our medals

The "pro life" van.

Most of the pro life team, standing in front of the awesome pro life van!

26.2

2008-10-13T07:35:00.003-06:00

My apologies for not updating sooner, no web access until now. Yesterday I completed the marathon in 4 hours, 19 minutes, and 23 seconds. That is a pace of 9:53 per mile. When we began training my goal was 10 minute miles so I came in just under that. My pace at the 10k and 30k mark(9:39p/m) was exactly the same which was surprisingly good.

Praise the Lord for the strength and endurance to run 26 miles! Thinking back on it this morning, I'm amazed that our bodies can handle something like that.

Today I'm a little sore especially my right knee and one my toes. My knee felt great for the first half of the race but as the miles wore on the knee got pretty sore. I'm looking forward to now letting it heal properly! My toe is nasty. I think the whole toenail is about to fall off and the whole upper part of the toe is black and blue. Beyond that my body feels pretty good this morning considering what I did yesterday =)

Throughout the race my lungs/cardio felt great. I was never winded or felt my heart racing. My legs were tired around mile 20 but got a good jolt from the crowd around mile 21. Speaking of the spectators, I was amazed at the number of people cheering. It was really incredible. Crowds lined the streets for much of the race cheering and giving high 5's. And they are looking for something/someone to cheer for so I had fun with that a couple of times. My running partner, Chad, and I sometimes waved our arms up and down to get them going! It gave us energy. So kudos to all you spectators out there!

I have some pictures and videos to post later today when I get back home.

A big thank you to all who prayed for me this past week/weekend. My cold was totally gone, and I was able to run the whole thing. I only walked for about 10 seconds through one of the last water stops. Praise the Lord!

Its Marathon Time!

2008-10-11T20:06:00.004-06:00

Well its almost here. The marathon is just 11 short hours away. After a busy day of picking up our race packet, wandering through the race expo, and driving through a bunch of Chicago I'm ready to get a full nights sleep.

Throughout the last 7 months of training, numerous people have asked me why I'm running the Chicago marathon. I was reminded tonight of how grateful we should be that we have the ability to run, walk, and breath. I hope by running to bring glory to God. I hope by running to support pro life. This is really our teams mission...that is to support the gift of life.

I would go on but brievity rules the night.

Up in the morning at 4:45am.

P.S. pictures to come hopefully tomorrow.

Arrived in Chicago

2008-10-10T19:06:00.002-06:00

Well I've arrived in Chicago. The two people I sat next to on the plane from Denver were both running the marathon; in fact I think about half of the people on the flight were running =)

I met up with some of the other people on our running team in Denver and just met a few more here at the hotel. I think there are 12 of us in total. We are getting ready to go grab a bite to eat and then to bed. More to come tomorrow!

Its Chicago Time!

2008-10-09T22:13:00.003-06:00

T-3 days! I leave for Chicago tomorrow early afternoon and the marathon is on Sunday morning 7am MST. So as your are headed to church remember me in your prayers.

I hope to post some updates on this blog throughout the course of the weekend so check back often.

As I often tell myself on the long runs: "Run for fun, Run for Him"

2008-10-07T21:52:00.001-06:00

Wow...

2008-10-02T21:13:00.003-06:00

As I'm just 10 short days away from the Chicago Marathon, I'm not sure if this story is encouraging or discouraging; yet is certainly is amazing!

"Imagine running a mile in four minutes, 43 seconds. Haile Gebrselassie of Ethiopia just ran 26.2 of them to shatter his own marathon record on September 28. He completed the distance in 2:03:59 at the Berlin Marathon. Talk about incredible!"

2 Peter

2008-09-29T22:05:00.002-06:00

"His divine power has given us everything we need for life and godliness through our knowledge of him who called us by his own glory and goodness. Through these he has given us his very great and precious promises, so that through them you may participate in the divine nature and escape the corruption in the world caused by evil desires. For this very reason, make every effort to add to your faith goodness; and to goodness, knowledge; and to knowledge, self-control; and to self-control, perseverance; and to perseverance, godliness; and to godliness, brotherly kindness; and to brotherly kindness, love.

For if you possess these qualities in increasing measure, they will keep you from being ineffective and unproductive in your knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. But if anyone does not have them, he is nearsighted and blind, and has forgotten that he has been cleansed from his past sins. Therefore, my brothers, be all the more eager to make your calling and election sure. For if you do these things, you will never fall, and you will receive a rich welcome into the eternal kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ." (Chapter 1:3-11)

I have been reading through 2 Peter each day in my devotions over the past couple of weeks. This section in chapter one has stood out to me. We are called to "make every effort" to add these wonderful character traits to our everyday lives culminating in an increase of our faith and love.

Beer Drinkers Beware

2008-09-28T22:29:00.000-06:00

PDA addiction

2008-09-18T20:38:00.002-06:00

Sure, you love your BlackBerry, but do you sleep with it?

A study by Sheraton Hotels & Resorts released this week says nearly 87 percent of professionals are so addicted to their PDAs that they’re taking them to bed — and would even choose them over their spouse.

The study surveyed 6,500 professionals from the United States, China, Australia, the United Kingdom and Germany with an individual income of $50,000 and higher.

Nearly 35 percent of those surveyed say they'd pick their PDA over their spouse.

About 84 percent of people say they check their phones either before they go to bed or when they wake up in the morning. (CSBJ daily)

Do you have experience?

2008-09-18T20:38:00.001-06:00

You couldn't get a job at McDonalds and become district
manager after 143 days of experience.

You couldn't become chief of surgery after 143 days
of experience of being a surgeon.

You couldn't get a job as a teacher and be the
superintendent after 143 days of experience.

You couldn't join the military and become a colonel
after a 143 days of experience.

You couldn't get a job as a reporter and become the
nightly news anchor after 143 days of experience.

BUT....

'From the time Barack Obama was sworn in as a United
State Senator, to the time he announced he was forming a Presidential
exploratory committee, he logged 143 days of experience in the Senate.
That's how many days the Senate was actually in session and working.
After 143 days of work experience, Obama believed he was ready to be
Commander In Chief, Leader of the Free World .... 143 days.
We all have to start somewhere. The senate is a good
start, but after 143 days, that's all it is - a start.
AND, strangely, a large sector of the American public
is okay with this and campaigning for him.

We wouldn't accept this in our own line of work, yet some are okay with this for the President of the United States of America ? Come on folks, we are not voting for the next American Idol!

Dear Mr. Obama

2008-09-12T17:46:00.002-06:00

Here is a video someone forwarded me today...

Marathon Update 9/9/08

2008-09-09T21:56:00.004-06:00

After some painful runs over the past couple of weeks I'm starting to feel better. I've been battling some intense IT band soreness, which is the muscle between your quad and hamstring. As I'm beginning to learn runners often deal IT band issues. I just got a new pair of shoes this week and they have made a world of difference. Additionally my chiropractor has stretched it out a couple of times which really makes my entire leg feel better.

After this evening's 6-miler, my right knee is the only thing that is sore. Praise the Lord! Hopefully, I'll get totally back on track this week and be able to run all the miles on my training schedule.

Less than 5 weeks till Chicago!

"Run for fun, Run for life, Run for Him"

Quoteables

2008-09-03T22:39:00.001-06:00

"The Democrats now have a mama bear and her cubs to deal with"

Chicago Marathon

2008-08-16T15:51:00.004-06:00

For those of you who don't know I'm training to run the Chicago Marathon coming up October 12th. I have just completed my 22nd week of training with 8 weeks to go. A normal week consists of 4 runs: two short(er) runs, one medium run, and a long run. Today I ran 15 miles which is the farthest I've run up to this point. Never having run a marathon before or even really being a runner has made the last couple of months a new experience. As the marathon draws closer, I hope to share some of these experiences with you via video blog updates!

"And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us" -Heb 12:1b

Running in the rain

2008-08-16T15:43:00.003-06:00

So this morning my buddy Chad and I ran 15 miles...in the rain. We were both drenched to the core but it really wasn't all that bad. Here are a couple of videos!

Fireproof

2008-08-14T23:24:00.020-06:00

From the creators of Facing the Giants, Fireproof has the makings of a family friendly film that portrays an ethical and Biblical worldview. Check out the trailer below...

Did you know...

2008-08-11T22:40:00.001-06:00

The word "racecar," "kayak," and "radar" are the same whether they are read left to right or right to left.

What are you looking at?

2008-08-10T22:37:00.004-06:00

Here is a picture I took over the weekend. Over 20 big horn sheep walked right towards us--they were only about 30 feet away!

Winners drive home in the dark...

2008-07-30T23:33:00.003-06:00

Neil Boortz, Commencement Speech:

• Don't look in other people's pockets. You have no business there. What they earn is theirs. What you earn is yours. Keep it that way. Nobody owes you anything, except to respect your privacy and your rights, and leave you the hell alone.

• Speaking of earning, the revered 40-hour workweek is for losers. Forty hours should be considered the minimum, not the maximum. You don't see highly successful people clocking out of the office every afternoon at five. The losers are the ones caught up in that afternoon rush hour. The winners drive home in the dark.

• Free speech is meant to protect unpopular speech. Popular speech, by definition, needs no protection.

Finally (and aren't you glad to hear that word), as Og Mandino wrote:

1. Proclaim your rarity. Each of you is a rare and unique human being.
2. Use wisely your power of choice.
3. Go the extra mile .. drive home in the dark.

Read the entire speech here

Quoteables

2008-07-29T07:40:00.002-06:00

"I can live two months on a good compliment" -Mark Twain

"You can't stay mad at somebody who that makes you laugh" -Jay Leno

"You are God my Savior, and my hope is in you all day long" -Psalm 25

Be like an old oak tree...

2008-07-25T23:08:00.003-06:00

Have you ever planted a tree? I have…lots of em.’ When a tree comes from the nursery it is “balled and burlaped.” The roots are wrapped to protect them until the tree gets planted. Imagine what would happen if the burlap never came off of the rootball. Would the tree grow strong and healthy? Nope. In fact, it would die. The roots would get so confined that the tree would actually kill itself. Just because it is a tree doesn’t automatically mean it can grow. It needs water, sunlight, and space to thrive in.

Now you may be wondering why I’m giving you a tree planting lesson. I don’t expect many of you plant trees on a regular basis but the question I have for you is: are you in a place where you can grow?

You might be okay right now at the nursery wrapped in your protective burlap but what will happen in two years if you haven’t planted yourself somewhere? What will happen in five years if you are still wrapped in the burlap and you haven’t grown in stature, wisdom or other things of the Lord? What will happen if you manage to plant yourself but don’t get any sunlight, water or space?

Be like an old oak tree; never stop growing.

Here are three practical suggestions:

Put yourself in places where you can grow. Sitting at home watching sitcoms doesn’t cut it.
Ask the Holy Spirit to convict you of areas in your life you need to grow in. Ask for humility while working on these areas.
Talk to a close friend and ask them what your weakest character trait is. Work on it.

Change?

2008-07-21T22:02:00.001-06:00

Springs Starbucks Safe

2008-07-18T12:05:00.001-06:00

For all you coffee lovers out there...

"Starbucks officials released a list yesterday of 600 underperforming U.S. stores the company planned to close in order to save money, and it appears that all Colorado Springs locations will remain open.

However, nine stores in Colorado will close – three in Denver, two in Loveland and single stores in Longmont, Lakewood, Broomfield and Conifer.

No specific closing date has been announced, but the company said many will start closing this month.

The shutdowns will continue through the first half of 2009" -CSBJ Daily

Talented Niece

2008-07-13T21:23:00.001-06:00

I just had to post this one of my niece Madelyn...

Stop. And Look Up.

2008-07-10T23:05:00.001-06:00

One looks and sees. One stops and ponders. One pauses and reflects. Do you ever wonder?

Wonder of the majesty and grander of creation? I do. Think about the grander of the stars. There are literally billions upon billions of them…wow. Laying beneath a sky filled with stars on a cool summer’s night is an unforgettable experience. On a dark night away from city lights, one can almost reach up and touch them as they stretch from horizon to horizon. I never tire of the splendor of stars…

Hail Storm

2008-07-03T22:49:00.006-06:00

My run tonight was rained out...or should I say hailed out. Some of the hail was over 1" in diameter!

Blog Vacation

2008-06-25T22:30:00.002-06:00

Hello mind mulling readers. I'll be taking a week long vacation from blogging as I'll be out of town. Until then, here is a video clip of my niece falling asleep!

Obama's legislative accomplishments

2008-06-12T10:10:00.001-06:00

I think the video speaks for itself...utterly amazing!

Round and Round We Go...

2008-06-04T21:24:00.005-06:00

Do you ever have one of those weeks where it seems like you fall asleep even before your head hits the pillow? And then the next instant the alarm is going off? Those days seem all too commonplace for me as of late. Work is busy, no insane. Phones ring at all hours of the day; e-mails flood the inbox like snow melting in spring. The office is a busy hub of coordination. The re-vamped marketing plan seems to have taken complete hold which is a double-edged sword. On the one hand it's great to have this much work and lots more coming in. The flip side though is the tyranny of the urgent. I must be careful not to let all of the little day-to-day items take over the big picture. As a business owner, I must be concerned not only with the job today, but the job tomorrow, next week, and next month. I must be concerned about taking care of clients; past, present, and future. I must communicate clearly to my client's and staff. These items often seem never-ending, but I rest in the peace that God has given me, knowing that I'm called to be an entrepreneur.

In the midst of the mundane Mondays, Tuesdays, or whatever-days; I trust that He will continue to bless my company as I strive to be a great owner, leader, and friend

Delays on Woodmen Road...

2008-06-03T06:32:00.005-06:00

...this week...next week...and for years to come!

"Got a sales appointment or delivery east of Colorado Springs? You may want to plan an alternative route this Friday, June 6.

One lane on the Woodmen Frontage Road east of Golden Sage Road near the School District 49 Bus/Administration Facility will be closed from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.

The closure will allow the installation of a storm drain pipe, and flaggers will help direct traffic.

Speed limits along Woodmen Road also have been reduced from 55 mph to 40 mph between Black Forest and Meridian roads for the duration of the project, through April 2009" (CSBJ daily)

40 mph is entirely to slow for this stretch of road, speaking as one who drives it multiple times per day. Often when coming home at night there is minimal traffic and not a construction worker in miles. The 40mph ought to be lifted from 6pm-6am.

The state of construction along Woodmen is about to get even worse this fall when overpass construction begins at Woodmen and Academy. And don't forget about the massive project at Woodmen and Powers. Once work at Academy and Woodmen begins over half of Woodmen from Hwy 24 to I-25 will be a construction zone. Oh joy.

Don't plan on getting anywhere quickly for the next couple of years if you traverse the cone zones on Woodmen!

Philippians 1:9-10

2008-06-02T06:34:00.002-06:00

"And this is my prayer: that your love may abound more and more in knowledge and depth of insight."

Paul's love for the church in Philippi is seen throughout this book and specifically in this verse. Telling them how he was praying for them was certainly an encouragement. It is like saying to a co-worker with a rocky marriage that you are praying for him and his wife. Your co-worker would be encouraged. Will you take a moment to pray for someone today and tell them that you are praying for them? In the same way Paul's love for the Philippians is evident throughout this book, our love for others must be evident in our lives.

Paul continues in verse 10 telling us why he is praying that their love may abound more and more: "so that you may be able to discern what is best and may be pure and blameless until the day of Christ." If our love abounds in knowledge and depth of insight them we will be better able to discern what is right and wrong, as well as being blameless and pure.

Look Up...Be Amazed

2008-05-24T22:23:00.006-06:00

Do you ever stop and look up? At a sky filled with brilliant stars from horizon to horizon? The star-filled sky is amazing tonight. It makes one certain of a creator, one who created the heavens and each individual, beautiful star. This amazes me. I love looking at the stars on a clear cool night. To take a few moments to enjoy God's breath-taking creation. I love the silhouette of the Ponderosa pine trees against the star-filled sky. What a joy it is to know this Creator, the one who made it all.

Tragic Accident

2008-05-22T22:40:00.000-06:00

Musician Steven Curtis Chapman's daughter killed in accident

Lawnscaping in the Rockies

2008-05-19T22:29:00.004-06:00

Hard to believe this was the scene here in Colorado Springs just a few short weeks ago. From one extreme to the next as we are expecting recording breaking heat over the next couple of days.

Bloggle your mind...

2008-05-16T22:17:00.004-06:00

If you haven't been over to "Mind Bloggling" lately you should check it out. Among a wide array of posts are some topics that might perk your perusing senses. Check out the latest FRAC podcast and the most recent post on Revelation.

Romans 12: An overview-part three

2008-05-15T22:47:00.002-06:00

We continue reading in verse 17b “be careful to do what is right in the eyes of everybody. If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone.” If it is possible live in harmony with those around you. Don’t let little squabbles come up between brethren. Honoring others needs ahead of your own is the main idea being communicated here.

And Paul continues by saying: “don’t take revenge, my friends but leave room for God’s wrath, for it is written: it is mine to avenge: I will repay says the Lord.” It is almost as if Paul is saying, look you will have disagreements with others, both Christians and non-Christians, such is the nature of life; but try to live at peace with them. If that fails then don’t take revenge, let God take care of that. Paul then uses an exact quote from Deuteronomy 32:35: “It is mine to avenge; I will repay.” We see the interpretation of this passage in the NT to re-enforce what we have examined in verses 14, and 17. Chiefly, not repaying evil for evil. The context of Deuteronomy 32 is the lament of Moses shortly before he dies. He uses verse 35 in the context of the Lord judging his people (v36).

So in summary of this short quote it is being used in similar contexts in both the Old and New Testaments. Both passages refer to leaving room for God’s judgment. The main difference is to whom the judgment is being directed towards. In the Deuteronomy passage God’s judgment is being promised towards the Israelites, while in the Romans passage it is more of a general promise.

Moo states: “It is not our job to execute justice on evil people; that is God’s prerogative, and he will visit his wrath on such people when he deems it right to do so.”

Are you a Democrat, Republican, or a Southern Republican?

2008-05-14T23:04:00.002-06:00

Here is a little test that will help you decide.

Question:
You are walking down a deserted street with your wife and two small children. Suddenly, an Islamic terrorist with a huge knife comes around the corner, locks eyes with you, screams obscenities, praises Allah, raises the knife, and charges.

You are carrying a Glock .40, and you are an expert shot. You have mere seconds before he reaches you and your family.

What do you do???

Democrat's Answer:

That's not enough information to answer the question!

Does the man look poor or oppressed?

Can we pass a law to help people in his situation?

Have I ever done anything to him that would inspire him to attack?

Could we run away?

What does PETA think?

Could I possibly swing the gun like a club and knock the gun out of his

hand?

What does the law say about this situation?

Does the Glock have an appropriate safety built into it???

Why am I carrying a loaded gun anyway, and what sort of message does this send to society and my chidren?

Does he definitely want to kill me, or would he be content to just wound me?

If I were to grab his knees an hold on, could my family get away while he kills me?

Should I call 911?

Why is this street so deserted? We need to raise taxes, have a paint and weeding day to make this street happier and healthier so it would discourage this behavior.

This is all so confusing!!! I need to debate this with a few friends and my psychiatrist for a few days and come to a consensus.

Republican's Answer:

…..BANG!

Southern Republican's Answer:

….BANG! BANG! BANG! BANG! BANG! BANG! BANG! BANG!

Click…(sounds of reloading)

….BANG! BANG! BANG! BANG! BANG! BANG! BANG! BANG!

Daughter:

Nice grouping Daddy!!! Were those the Winchester Silver Tips???

In case you haven't seen this...

2008-05-13T22:06:00.000-06:00

Romans 12: An overview-part two

2008-05-12T21:52:00.002-06:00

Verses four through eight which speak about the use of spiritual gifts. Spiritual gifts are compared to the many parts in the human body. In the same way there are many parts of a human body each serving its purpose, there are many spiritual gifts within the body of Christ each serving in a unique way. Verses four and five illustrate this: “just as each of us has one body with many members and these members do not all have the same function, so in Christ we who are many form one body, and each member belongs to all the others.” We who are believers belong to this body; the body of Christ. Paul goes on to state that whatever our gift(s) might be, one ought to use them for the edification of the church whether it be teaching, encouraging or showing mercy.

Continuing on in verses 9-21 we read an array of specific instructions on loving those around us; not only our brethren but our enemies as well. Paul speaks of Christian relationships along with our treatment of non-Christians.

We read in verse 10: “Be devoted to one another in brotherly love. Honor one another above yourselves.” Or in other words love others with such a passion that you put their needs ahead of your own. Not only those we want to love, but as verse 14 states: “bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse.” This language is similar to that used in Matthew 5:10 where Jesus taught: “blessed are those who are persecuted because of righteousness for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.” Combining these two verses we learn that part of being blessed is being persecuted and in response we need to bless those who are persecuting us.

Imagine this. Being insulted at work for believing in the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ, being scorned and ridiculed for believing in this “fairy tale.” We are commanded to turn around and bless those who are insulting us. Perhaps buying them lunch or saying a kind word in return. Loving our enemies is not easy, yet in verse 17 we read: “do not repay anyone evil for evil.” It appears as if the issue of dealing with conflict within the church in Rome and conflict with those outside of the church was a topic of concern to Paul.

Romans 12: An overview-part one

2008-05-11T22:44:00.003-06:00

Romans chapter 12 begins with a shift to a new topic. Previously, in chapters 9-11, Paul has been explaining the future of Israel. The twelfth chapter transitions: “therefore, I urge you, brothers, in view of God’s mercy to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God-this is your spiritual act of worship.” This sets the context for the chapter, which is, offering your lives as living sacrifices. “In view of God’s mercy” refers to the mercies previously written in chapters 1-11.

Verses two and three follow with instructions about how we renew our mind. Once we have renewed our mind we will be able to test and approve what the will of God is; but verse three says to not to let this transformation make us proud or conceited. Understanding verse two is crucial to this entire chapter that Paul writes. The key word here is transformation, as this vein is carried throughout the text. Paul tells us to be transformed by the renewing of our minds; followed by the rest of chapter 12 which gives us specific ways and specific instances to practice this transforming.

As one reads this entire passage it is important to think with this lens of transformation on your mind. In verse 18 of chapter 12 Paul says: “If it is possible as far as it depends on you live at peace with everyone.” This is not our natural inclination. Our natural tendency is to disagree with others because of our pride; however we are called to be transformed in all things. I believe all that is written throughout the remainder of this wonderful letter to the church in Rome, can be tied back to the theme of renewing your thinking, which leads to a transformation of your actions. Douglas Moo concurs in his commentary of Romans: “We are, then, to view vv. 9-21 as a further elaboration of that “good” which the person who is being transformed by the renewing of the mind approves of (v.2)”

Spring has Sprung !

2008-04-28T06:35:00.003-06:00

The weather has gotten nice and that means work is abundant. Everyone and their mother has a landscape project they want done now. Too bad we are booking out 6 weeks. Blog posts will become a bit more scarce as I'm working long hours and sometimes six days a week.

In other news, I saw the movie Expelled last week and would highly recommend it. It is well worth the price of admission if for nothing else then the interview with Richard Dawkins at then end of the film.

If you read this...leave a comment!

2008-04-24T07:53:00.002-06:00

Okay all you blog browsers...I'm looking for words that rhyme with "ignite." Any and all words will do such as "sight," "light," and "kite." How many can you come up with?

"Set the World on Fire"

2008-04-22T17:43:00.000-06:00

I wanna set the world on fire
Until it`s burning bright for You
It`s everything that I desire
Can I be the one You use?

I, I am small but
You, You are big enough
I, I am weak but
You, You are strong enough to
Take my dreams
Come and give them wings
Lord with You
There`s nothing I can not do
Nothing I cannot do

I wanna feed the hungry children
And reach across the farthest land
And tell the broken there is healing
And mercy in the Father`s hands

My hands my feet
My everything
My life, my love
Lord, use me

I wanna set the world on fire
I wanna set the world on fire, yeah

I`m gonna set the world on fire
Set the world on fire

Interesting signs

2008-04-18T12:46:00.002-06:00

Sign in a Realtor's office: "Lots for little."

Sign in a shoe store: "Come in and have a fit."

Sign in a maternity clothes store: "We are open on labor day."

Sign in a non-smoking area: "If we see you smoking we will assume you are on fire and take appropriate action."

Sign on the door of the maternity ward: "Push Push Push."

Sign in a bookstore: "We treat you write."

Sign in an optometrist's office: "If you don't see what you're looking for, you've come to the right place."

Sign in a podiatrist's window: "Time wounds all heels."

Sign on an electrician's truck: "Let Us Remove Your Shorts."

Sign in a butcher's window: "Let me meat your needs."

Sign in a muffler shop: "No appointment necessary. We'll hear you coming."

Sign at a hotel: "Help! We need inn-experienced people."

Quoteables

2008-04-18T12:40:00.001-06:00

Ravi Zacharias powerfully observes, "Gods sovereignty is not tyrannical when it is bounded by goodness. Gods holiness is not tortuous when it is tempered by grace. Gods omniscience is not taunting when it is coupled with mercy, and Gods immutability is far from stifling when it is certain of good will."

Springtime in the Rockies

2008-04-17T12:28:00.008-06:00

Ah, the joy of living in Colorado. And running a landscape company in the midst of crazy springtime weather. In the past 48 hours El Paso county has had:

70-degree temperatures
40 mile-an-hour winds
4% relative humidity
Multiple large wildfires
20-degree temperatures
blizzard like conditions
Slick road conditions
5 inches of snow
oh and beautiful blue sky!

Ignite Saturday Night

2008-04-15T22:39:00.005-06:00

More to come...

Your mission...should you choose to accept it

2008-04-11T08:47:00.003-06:00

The following is an excerpt from Ordering Your Private World by Gordon McDonald speaking on how our Lord used his time here on earth.

“Jesus clearly understood his mission. He had an overarching task to perform and He measured His use of time against that sense of mission. This is quite apparent during his final walk toward Jerusalem, where He would be crucified. As Jesus approached Jericho, Luke wrote (chapter 18), His ears picked up the shrill voice of a blind man and He stopped much to the consternation of both His friends and critics. They were irritated that Jesus did not appreciate that Jerusalem was still six or seven hours away and that they would like to get there to achieve their purpose, the celebration of Passover.

And indeed they had a point-the purpose of Christ was merely to reach Jerusalem in time for a religious celebration. But as we soon learn, that was not Jesus’ prime mission. Touching broken people like the blind man was a more significant matter, important enough for Jesus to invest His time.

Not long after the first encounter, Jesus stopped once again this time under the branch of a tree to call down Zacchaeus, a well-known tax collector. It was the Lords idea that the two get together for a conversation at Zacchaeus’s house. Once again the crowd surrounding Jesus was incensed first because the trip to Jerusalem was again interrupted and second because of Zacchaeus’s reputation.

From where they were standing, it appeared that Jesus was misusing His time. From where Jesus was standing, however, the time was well spent, for it fit the criteria of His mission.”

What is your mission? Are you spending your time and energies to fulfill that mission? Everything we do ought to fit the criteria of our mission. I would encourage you to take a few minutes and let your mind mull on your mission.

Amazing story

2008-04-10T11:12:00.000-06:00

"Make every effort"

2008-04-09T07:51:00.001-06:00

Recently, I was celebrating a friend’s 21^st birthday at Old Chicago’s with a large group of people. Some were drinking a beer with their pizza. For some reason, our server was not really checking ID’s of those drinking. No big deal. Or so I thought until a conversation with the 20-year old sitting next to me. He was fighting an inward battle about whether or not to order a drink. Upon conversing with him for several minutes I find out that he has had a problem with alcohol in the past, yet is trying to live a Godly life and not drink (which for him has led to getting drunk.) Additionally, he had come to realize that even if he thought he could handle a drink he shouldn’t because he is underage.

Yet sitting there that night he was being tempted to order a beer because others at the table had a beer with their pizza and it looked good. Very good. Talk about a battle within. As the minutes passed he rationalized more and more about why he should have a beer. He asked my opinion. I turned and asked him what his conscience was telling him…this lead into a great conversation.

The question I have is not whether or not he should have ordered a drink that night. It is clear from the scriptures that we shouldn’t get drunk (Eph 5:18, Rom 13:13, 1 Cor 6:10, Gal 5:21.) It’s also clear from the scriptures that we ought to obey our authority (Rom 13:1-7) which in this case is the government, as they have established 21 as the legal drinking age.

Rather the question that should be asked is: what is the responsibility of those sitting at the table who had ordered beers? Were they causing a brother to stumble? Should they have asked if anyone had a problem with them ordering alcohol before they did? I believe that would have been the proper course of action. The Bible speaks of this in Romans 14:19-21 where Paul writes: “Let us therefore make every effort to do what leads to peace and to mutual edification. Do not destroy the work of God for the sake of food. All food is clean, but it is wrong for a man to eat anything that causes someone else to stumble. It is better not to eat meat or drink wine or to do anything else that will cause your brother to fall.” By ordering beers those around this young man didn’t cause him any peace or mutual edification. In fact, I witnessed him not at peace much of the night. I’m not judging those who ordered drinks that night and I wonder if they knew what was going on a few chairs down from them.

In the end, by the grace of God, he didn’t order a drink that night and I believe God was pleased. He and I spoke two weeks later and within the first couple of minutes mentioned how glad he was he didn’t have a drink that night. Now in future, he said, it will be much easier for him to say no because he knows what it is like to win a battle.

I had never before seen this type of scenario played out right in front of me. I won’t soon forget this valuable life lesson…

Indoor soccer

2008-04-08T21:40:00.010-06:00

Over the past couple of weeks I've had the opportunity to play a couple of indoor soccer games on my brother-in-laws team. It is a great workout and a ton of fun. Here are a few pictures from a game this past weekend

Troy's first game at goalie~nice save!

The Shot

The Save

The Collision

Empty Net!

Quoteables

2008-04-02T22:38:00.003-06:00

"Wisdom is not the product of schooling, but of the lifelong attempt to acquire it"

"Not textbook, but storybook"

"When it rains it pours...or in this case when it doesn't rain it gets poured"

"You always reap more than you sowed"

"Don't be deceived by the flutter of your heart"

"Wisdom is: doing the right thing, at the right time, with the right attitude"

"And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him"

General Reflections

2008-04-02T11:36:00.004-06:00

There is a line in the movie Hitch where Will Smith says: "In my head...I didn't see it going that way." In our human perspective we see things going one way in our head, yet they play out completely different in real life. Why? Is it because we are inherently selfish? Or perhaps because we can't truly view how others perceive things? Philippians tells us to look out for the "interests of others." It is frustrating beyond measure when we try to do this and fail. I'm trying to truly look at things from others perspectives but actions and words still get misconstrued. Do you ever get the feeling sometimes people stop listening, stop thinking, and stop reasoning. It doesn't matter what you say they aren't listening. Period. They don't care what you have to say. This is frustrating. When misunderstandings occur with those around me I will try to understand where they are coming from because I've been on the other side.

We are imperfect beings thus we will fail and misunderstandings will happen....yet I'm weary of being misunderstood.