Interesting Quote

Just in terms of allocation of time resources, religion is not very efficient. There's a lot more I could be doing on a Sunday morning.
- Bill Gates


I thought this was a most interesting observation from a very successful well-known person. Hmmmm..... where do we go from here....?

Easter Easter Easter

I had a wonderful Easter! Family, Friends, and of course My Savior! It is such a privilege being able to set aside a day, weekend, week to focus in on the life, death, burial, and resurrection of a Prophet, Priest, and King. Life is so worth it knowing that there really was a Jesus, knowing that Jesus really did live here on Earth, knowing that he suffered and died, knowing that he was buried (a sealed tomb none the less), knowing that he was raised from the dead, knowing he didn't die again (still alive), and knowing he did it all for me.

I took a big gamble this year and decided not to hype all of the Easter hoo haa in my home with my children. Yes I did get them their candy and whatnot, but we didn't talk much about the Easter bunny and didn't focus much on the whole idea of the "Easter Festivities". I did however take more than one moment each day and talk to my kids (2,3, and 6 years old), to tell them what was gonna happen on Friday and then Sunday (Easter Sunday). I began to wonder if it really was sinking in, when Sunday afternoon on the way to 6pm service my two year old daughter Bekkah (did I mention she is only two) looked up in the sky and made a innocent comment, "hey dad look at the sun coming through the clouds, is that Jesus coming back?". I asked what she meant. She commented back with the agreement of the other two, "you said Jesus was coming back today."

HOLY HOLY HOLY HOLY HOLY! Are you kidding me, my two year old daughter muttered this, oh my GOD! (literally) How fantastic is that? Tell me Jesus still doesn't make a difference! Did I mention Bekkah is only two, tell me Jesus doesn't make a difference! He is ALIVE! He is Moving! He is still......

A Daughters Reminder

Last night my beautiful daughter, Halie, who I might add is only 6 years old gave me a glimse into a child's amazing source of wisdom. After we said prayers for bed, which we do every night, she grabbed me around my neck and said, "daddy, I just love Jesus so much!" There was no explaination for this comment, but a there was a gleam in her eye and a since of total satisfaction in her voice. I am so humbled at how a child can remind you of how simple living the Christian life can be.

I spent the day in deep thought of her comment before bed. A few interesting arguements ran through my head: first, a child mimicks those around them; second, a child says things to please their parents. I must say I don't believe either one of these "Well researched" arguements. I have noticed something as I have worked with children and youth over the years that I find very interesting, when they believe in something you can really see that conviction in the way they live life. Take my daughter for instance; Halie loves to pray, I don't have to ask she just takes any opportunity to do it and really enjoys talking to God. Halie is hungry to hear, learn, and tell the words of God any chance she gets. She has a sincre desire to serve others whenever she can. Halie loves to live out what she learns from Christians.

I think my thoughts can be summed up simply reminding you of what my daughter said, "I just love Jesus so much!" What if we "just loved Jesus so much!"

"Once"

I borrowed a movie from Will called "Once", and finally had the chance to watch it.

I really want to encourage you to check this show out, something just amazing about a love story that doesn't quite end as you are expecting it to. I was watching this movie and was completely blown away at the modern day aspect to a musical, but the way the love between two individuals unfolds between them and how it finally turns out. I think this movie gives a since of Hope for the future to certian life circumstances that I have experienced.

Good movie worth watching!

A Lousiana Prayer

Today I traveled to Baton Rouge, LA and the weather was amazing outside. I am not speaking of good weather, but the most amazing rain storm I have ever experienced. The moment I left San Antonio it started to pour and it rain all the way until the prayer. I was driving through the thickest rain I have ever seen, and seeing the rain created a non-seeing road. There most more times than I could count that visibilty was about 30 yards. I saw several cars slide into the ditches surounding the interstate. At one point I saw a SUV slide right into the byou below, it was scarey and unbelievable at the same time. As I was driving through some of the heaviest rain I saw a large tow truck pulling out an SUV from the swampy byou below. Not only was the two truck pulling out the SUV, but the search and rescue team was treading around in the water looking for something. I pray that the people were ok. At that point I felt it was a good time to call some prayer warriors (Trevor and Will). I called and talked to Trevor for a few minutes and asked him to pray for safe travel, and once I got ahold of Will I asked him not only for prayer for my travel but for the people driving through the storm too. Will prayed on the phone and when we hung up, no joke, the rain stopped. The RAIN STOPPED! I was like Yahooo for Jesus! The most rain I saw from that point forward was a drizzle. God is a that is to be praised and adored for His mercies endure forever!
God bless you Trevor and Will! Thanks for the prayers and even though the other travelers might not realize it, they thank you too!

Hmmmm.....

Tonight was one of those nights...

I had a swell time hanging out with friends, doing church, playing guitar during worship, and having an interesting time with some police officers. My brother and I were out in the church parking lot chatting and a cop pulled up (spotlighted us) and asked for our licenses and ran our names. He was almost condeming us with his questions like, "do I need to know anything before I run your names", and then after running our names asking again, "are you sure there isn't anything you need to tell me?" I appreciate the safety that was desplayed but did it really have to go down liek this. It was most uncomfortable when another cop came in and there was some quiet chatting going on between them and the way it seemed as if we were guilty of something we didn't even know about. I appreciate our police officers and have a deep respect for the work they do and how their lives are really on the line each day, but there has to be another way to gain that respect from innocent and avereage citizens just being innocent.

Where does your passion lie?

Over the past 9 months I have been acking for something and it has been eating me alive. After my wife left me I resigned from the church where I was serving. I did this against counsel from my accountability partners, leadership, and friends blessing. It was a difficult move, but I listened to some wise counsel from family and some friends. I needed time to heal and I needed to be restored to the man God wanted and wants me to be. I have been acking to get back into the ministry full-time and serve in that capacity once again. I know and understand that each and everyone of us has a ministry (full-time) even if you work outside of the church walls, but I remember when God first placed this idea in my mind. Since my sophmore year of high school I have been developing this idea of full-time ministry into a passion that is firey and it burns deep within me. I must say I am scared and I know it will be tough, but I am so ready again. I have learned so much about life and I am even more so passioniate about sharing the love of God and using the talents that God has granted me in a capacity of full-time ministry. I ask for your prayers that this time will come quick and that I will be ready.

Good Times

I had the opportunity tonight to lead worship for the youth of the church I have been attending, Journey Fellowship, and had a wonderful time. This is the first time I have been back to any Youth Group since I resigned from the church I was serving. It is wierd to think it has been almost 9 months. I was so pumped and still am. Thank God for restoration and healing. Thanks to Journey for allowing me to use the gifts God has given me. Bless you and the work your doing!

Some Men Where Stretchy Pants

What a good day today! This morning was a great day at church with my children. I am always blown away at how much they enjoy church and learning about how much God can change thier lives. My daughter, Halie, is always so pumped up to tell me about her experiences and what application she has for the lesson from Bible Land, and to see the joy on all their faces just hanging out with people from church is a true example on how Christians can love on each other and transform their lives.

Tonight was a great night of Journey Fellowship 6pm service. It is great to see something new and to know that a new service is allowing for people who can't make a morning service can now have a time with God and to deepen that relationship with Him. I was so excited to see Kristy's mom their tonight and to see the joy upon her face to be in the presence of Christian brothers and sisters. I will continue to pray for her and the healing that God is doing in her life.

After service tonight I had the chance to see "Nacho Libre". I know it is now a movie that is no longer in the new releases at Blockbuster but still a great movie. The movie had a lesson that was so inline with the messages from Church today about humility and hospitality. Here is a man who wants so badly to help orphans, that he is willing to wrestle and basically make a fool of himself to make sure the chldren are happy.

I hope that as we as Christians practice living out our faith we can do as the Christians of the early church. We need to remember that underneath all that we wear throughout the day is our stretchy pants and our identity of being a warrior for Christ.

Jam Session

Tonight was fun, we sat around and had a jam session at the Bach. Pad (Duece, Trev, Chris' place). I had a swell time listening to others play and sing, then got to do some of my own as well. I also did the fantastic fall off of the couch, awh Good times. But seriously, have you ever noticed how guitar playing has become such a trend. I am almost annoyed at when you break out the guitar some has got to one up you, or the song is motified to the point of see how good I am. I am not saying this was the case tonight, but I sometimes wish I learned how to play the Kazoo instead of guitar. I remember when chicks used to dig the guitar and the fact you could play, now I am sure they are quite annoyed that everyone and their brother's cousin knows how to play (especially "Sweet Home Alabama"). I mean come on I have been playing for almost 12 years now and I think I suck at guitar, I really do wish I was better, but I find myself trying to show off. What's up with That? I am curious if there is a new skill I can learn that can be "cool" that I know if I did know it. I would like some suggestions, seriously, I am gonna do something different and then try to make it a trend and see what happens. Please comment you ideas and I will blog the progress to keep you all informed. This should be fun...

Rock Band

Tonight was the big show... Well at least in the eyes of Kristy, Duece, Chris, Racheal and myself. We were totally rocking out to "Rock Band" and we became the band. So sorry MTV, but tonight we were the real "Making of the Band". We were the stars, the heroes, we were the real thing. Wow who would have thought that some freinds could create such righteous sounds and become the most amazing rock band ever playing everyones greatest hits.
Again I am amazed at how much fun you can have without all the hype of night clubs, drunkeness, drugs, etc... God is a good God for allowing people to get together and enjoy each others company even when we look so goofy and are doing some really out of the box things. I am sitting here, 1:20am, wondering how much fun Jesus and the disciples had hanging out together just enjoying each others company. Would they have played "Rock Band", I am sure they would have and so much more. If life can be this much fun hanging out with a few Christian brothers and sisters heaven is going to be a blast.
So from this rock star to you... "I want to thank my Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, my mom/dad, my brothers and sisters, and my producers, all my fans for giving me the inspiration to be the Musician I now am!", "I accept this Grammy!"


Upcoming tour dates posted soon....

V-day is for Friends....

Valentine's Day has never really got me that excited even when I had a special someone to share it with, but tonight I had the best Valentine's Day ever. I had the opportunity to hang out with my new community group tonight and to be in their presence was a complete blessing and honor. It is so good to have freinds who you can love and share with and enjoy each other's company. There is something to say when you can relate to people without have to try to hard. I am so thankful for Friends, new and old.

Dear Friends
I choo choo chooseYOU!
Happy Valentine's Day!

For Trevor....

Trevor I saw this and thought of you.... Enjoy

What is your flavor?

I have heard the church, as a whole. described as a Baskin Robbins, with 31+ flavors to go around. And you can totally see that in that there are so many churches to choose from, but what happens when churches start severing other flavors. You can see a transformation in the "church" today that is very interesting. It is as if they are trying to have something for everone. I think this is great, and believe we as the church need to meet the needs of people and provide an atomosphere of love and acceptance to help in that effort. But as much as I love going to Baskin Robbins because of all the flavors I get frustrated at all the flavors at the same time not knowing what to choose. I will go there knowing what I am craving and as quick as I entered the store I have become overwelmed with so many choices. And as much as I was hungry for ice cream my taste buds are now confused not knowing the flavor that brought me there to begin with. I know that a hunger for God is a wonderful and amazing thing and it is wonderful to know the church is there to help meet that need in fulfilling that hunger, but are we forgeting what drew us there or what is drawing others to begin with. I love the "church", and I am so excited to see churches meet needs on a massive scale but I wonder if all of the flavor we seem to offer might be confusing the spirit flavor that we need.

Change, "The New Chapter"

Well tonight I did something that scared me to death. But let me explain. It has been almost ten months since my marriage failed. I won't go into details on why this happened, but I will say it was the most devestating chapter of my life. I still have days when I cry many tears and ask, "why me?" Although healing has been slow there has been healing in my life. I am actually about to cry as I write this. I have been praying constantly for these last ten months that closure would come to this chapter. I think tonight the next chapter started, I got the courage to ask a gal to the movies. I must say I felt like a Jr Higher asking his first girl out. I hope that this next chapter has more healing and will speak to better days for me and my children, but thank God for change. If that gal is reading this, "Thank You, and know God is good, and since we love Him, good is to come!"
Heres to the story of my life and the chapter to come.

Fate or Wishful thinking?

I just watch a totally swell chick flick staring the one and only John Cusack, "Serendipity". I have always enjoyed a good chick flick; Sleepless in Seatle, You got mail, Breakfast at Tiffany's, etc..., but this movie, Serendipity, was just great. I am sitting here going over tons of "could be fate instances" and I am hoping that maybe just maybe this fateful thinking might be true. Oh, please be true.....
Well heres to good movies that get you motivated to think.

The Good Life

It is so good to be back to the "Good Life". I have been out of town so much lately, and it can get very lonely. This was my week to be with my kids and I had to be out of town Monday and Tuesday, and I could feel the pieces missing from my life. Last night I picked the kids up from school and daycare and those pieces where clicking back into place. I call this the "Good Life". It is a very different picture than the world paints now a days. Within two hours of picking them up I had spent over $100 and only $4.oo was for me, awh yes the "Good Life". Kids can be so expensive but so worth it. When I don't have my kids I am so lonely and my time is filled with reading books, watching TV, and internet. Freedom don't you think, being able to be alone and do what you want. I don't think that at all. That freedom is often spoke of the "Good Life" being able to live for YOU. Being able to provide for my children, be in their presence, and to recieve their love is the "Good Life". I thank God everyday for the life he gave me, the situations I get to live through, and the "Good Life".

Great Game!

NICE!

I love a good show of courage. And well this game showed it all. The Giants where a complete underdog in this superbowl match-up, and they came out and showed the Pats how things are done.

PROPS to the Manning boys for doing the coolest back to back Superbowl wins!

Congratulations!

I am so glad they love each other and may God Bless their unions, but
do you suppose they get the same kick that we do?

LOST

It's back! And we are as lost as ever!

I love this show it really brings out some great thinking my brain. If you are not a fan I can totally understand, but I still say if you watch long enough then you will to become hooked and you will want more and more of this amazing show. I like to say I love and get so frustrated with this show at the same time. Honestly I don't hate the show I just get frustrated at how much I don't know and how much I want to know and really have a deep desire to know more.

I think that this kinda of thinking can totally be related to a relationship with Jesus. There are so many people who don't like the idea of a relationship with him because they don't take the time to take it all in and well become "hooked". And then people can become frustrated at having a relationship with Jesus because there is so much to know and it can sometimes become frustrating. When things become frustrating and when we tend not to understand everything we don't want much to do with it. When it comes to a relationship with Jesus there is so much to desire and so much to know.

Keep watching Lost it becomes addicting and you will always want more.

Keep seeking and building your relationship with Jesus it will become addicting and you will always want more.

thats all i got to say about that

So another long day at work... I would say that my rear is permanently attached to a seat in a vinyl wrapped avalanche. I was wondering if anyone thinks like me...

So on my way to no man's land today in south of San Antonio I saw at least 5 highway patrol in speed traps, and as many border patrol hiding in bushes along the way.
And on my way to Dallas shortly after that I saw about triple that many highway patrol.

Can anyone say quota?

I wonder if there really is a quota and if so Why? And if there is a quota why wait until the last couple of days of the month to enforce it? I always am curious if rules where enforced maybe all the time if life would be that much easier (well I have kids and that ideal works fantastic with them)? I am also curious if this type of enforcement just creates a mindset to do "OK" and no "Excellent" in our daily lives.
I listened to the State of the Union address tonight on the way to Dallas and as much as I like George Bush (I respect your opinions), I found it interesting that as a President whinds down his time in office He seems to let his political convictions that much more known and seem to be that much more firm in where He stands on issues. I will give it to Bush that he has remained firm on many issues while in office and has shown a great deal of integrity on his personal beliefs, but it seemed like tonight he was all over congress to get things done.
As political officers seem to do when they know that they don't have an election to win, or if they know their time in office is almost up they step up in making sure the "agenda" gets done. And, well, why do we as Children of God seem to be so la-di-da about our Christian lifestyles until we think, "it doesn't matter what people think cause there is so much at hand now".

What I am trying to say is this. We tend to live life like no one is watching us until the end of the month when people begin to pay attention. Why not stand firm and live life as if we are not trying to fill "God's Quota"? Jesus was pretty simplistic when He said, "hey, I am life, and you can live it so much better in me, and well if you live like this then your loving people like I do and they will know there is something there, and if you live like this then they will know you are different from the world" (Todd's revised version)

So anyway. Forget the Quota. Live life and enjoy it, and well if you obey the posted speed limits you will live so much longer and be able to enjoy life that much better and probably longer!

Taking Time

I was driving over a newer overpass at a major intersection of two very busy freeways, and I noticed the black marks of tires and scrap marks of bumpers along the guard rails. I don't think I really paid much attention to the guard rails on other over passes, so after seeing this on this particular bridge I decided to make sure I looked while driving on some more overpasses. I was blown away at the amount of marks along every overpass I have driven on in the last four days. After paying attention to these marks I began to wonder about the cars that made these marks. And I really do wonder what condition they were in. After awhile of pondering what the car was looking like, I then turned my thoughts to the person inside the car. Questions ran through my mind; Where they hurt? Where they drunk? Cellphone? Text Message? A child distracting them from back seat? A significant other? What caused them to ver so close to the guard rail that they bumped into it.
Today I was recapping all of these thoughts and it dawned on me how many times in my "Christianity" do I just pass life on by and not notice the crazy marks life makes. And well I took that even farther even if I noticed the marks, I was to busy thinking about the circumstances that caused the marks. And well I had to go farther and I was convicted that even if I was focusing on the circumstances I was missing the persons involved in the circumstances.
Isn't it interesting that the majority of the time we notice the effects of circumstances in life, then we notice the circumstances that caused the effects, and then we notice the person(s) involved. And as we are going through this "routine" we tend to judge and unfortunately we miss the individuals that are effected. I also find it interesting that because of our "routine" and the order of our "routine" we tend to take the circumstance and the effect of the circumstance and we make it almost impossible to reach out and help the person being effected.
If we take time and look for the person before circumstance and find the person before the effects of that circumstance then relationships are formed and I believe we have just lived and loved as Jesus. Take some time...

Well there is a sign!

Thursday is the day for a good sign!

Wierd Thought

Yesterday afternoon the news reported that Heath Ledger has passed away.

Before I say anything more about that, I need to say that he was one of my favorite actors. Of course I can't say that I saw "Brokeback Mountain", and as much as I might have disagreement with what I heard and read about the movie, it is my understanding that his performance was fantastic.

Well back to the news of his death...

My first reaction will wait for the last lines of this thought, but it seems that death effects me more than ever. I find it interesting that I hear of so many people near my age that are passing away, it puts my life and what I do in perspective. I hope and pray that my life is a witness of the grace of God, and a message of hope that God can make all things new.

Now after saying all of this, I had to take a serious step back after I heard the news of Heath's death. My first thought and reaction was, "Oh no! Did he finish the new Batman movie, cause I really want to see it". I have asked for forgiveness for this comment, and now I get the great task of reacting and living out the thought of my life being a witness of the grace of God.

2 Things

1. Convenience
2. Ummmmmm this might just work

America's ingenuity at its best.

This should be fun....

Well as soon as I get a chance, I will be either wowing you with the most though provoking words, or you will very very confused at what might be going on in my head. To many times I am sitting at home and have a thought go through my mind that is to good to not share so now you will be blessed with a glimpse into my mind.

Thought of the day is the title of my blog page, "Man is like a piece of Cheese". A few years ago there was a spoof movie, Mafia, that totally murdered the "Godfather", and there was a most interesting line used in the movie, "Man is like a piece of Cheese." The line was said at a wedding as a toast, and that is all that was said, "Man is like a piece of Cheese". Actually if you don't think to hard on the words you find that it is so true. Man, humankind, people are like pieces of cheese. We get better as we age (or should), we smell worse when we get older, we can become hard and coarse on the outside, and we can grow hair where hair shouldn't grow.

Now as we age, we should become better and better at what we do. "Why?", because we have made mistakes and learned from them (again, we should have), and well as the old saying goes practice makes us perfect.

Lets face it as we age we tend to stink more and more. Of course that stench comes from the deterioration of our body (right, right?). But honestly our smell might not get worse but it should be more noticeable whether it would be physical smell or a glimpse of our who we are and how far we have come.

As age sets in so does experience in living life. It seems as we get older we become used to taking "it", almost as if we are getting hard and coarse on the outside. Sometimes this change is a good thing because it allows for tolerance and we seem to be able to take life a little easier. Then there is those times when that hard coarseness might not allow for love to penetrate or negative things to be able to get out, then like you would a piece of cheese you get rid of the junk.

Then of coarse as cheese gets older it gets a little moldy, and well to add some pure humor to life why does hair grow in weird places when it isn't supposed to. I am not sure I am looking forward to having hair in weird places but I am sure that it will happen as I will ask What? When? Where? Why? How? and only will there be a medical answer.

Life is like that isn't it? a piece of Cheese. I like cheese (not to much, quantity, oh no bad), but I do enjoy cheese. It makes Queso Queso. A grill cheese sandwich would be a grill sandwich without it. Cheese seems to make things better. So if "Man is like a Piece of Cheese", and we are destined to live with each other then things should be, well, better! What would life be with out you? Not so swell.

- well there you have it my mind works - I think