A New Creation...

I QUIT!!!

2008-10-01T00:00:00.000-07:00

Well, not me, but Stacy did. Today is a big day in the Stacy household. After almost 3 and a half years she will stop throwing papers on October 31st. Early this morning she handed in her official notice that she will be stopping.

I don't know that I will ever be able to fully communicate nor even come close to paying her back for all the sacrifice and hardship that she has put herself through to help us make ends meet. Just as God has seen us through other times I know that He is and will be with us as we make this transition.

Stac, I am proud of you! And I love you!

P.S. Mark you calendars for November 1st. We are having a celebration party at our house!

Father's Day is now on April 5th!

2008-04-05T16:58:00.000-07:00

We got our first grill for our wedding reception at my home church after we returned from our honeymoon (June 2002). It bit the dust LAST April. In other words....NO GRILLING ALL SUMMER!!!

So the other night Stacy said that we should go and get the parts to fix my old grill, so off to Lowe's we go. When we pull up they of course have all the new models of grills sitting out in front. Enter temptation. It all gets kind of blurry from here till now so I will try and relay what I've been told happened. Well, actually all I really remember is Stacy saying "Why don't we get a new one? I was going to get you one for Father's Day, but I don't want to wait till June." From the word June until now everything else is a blur. Well all except for finding this little beauty priced at the lower model's price and getting it for $40 bucks cheaper. So without further delay let me say.....Grilling season is here. Take this as an open invite to come eat with us (provided I give Stacy 72 hours notice)

(man grunting)

Let me introduce you to 667 cu. inches of grilling area. The flyer said you can get like 24 patties on it...(yeah 24 Krystal size patties) I think I can squeeze 12 on there.

It has three burners pumping out 42,000 btu of propane...(again more grunting)

It also has a 12,000 btu side burner

MMMMMmmmmm. CCCCChhhhhhiiiiiiicccccccckkkkk-uuuuuun!

(commence drooling)

LET'S EAT!!!

My Toes Hurt!!!

2008-02-24T18:37:00.000-08:00

What seems like a month ago is really just 1 week ago. We were in Gatlinburg with MYG at Winterfest. It was a great time. During the first session Saturday before lunch Jerome Williams sang a song.

'Said I wasn't gonna tell anybody
but I couldn't keep it to myself
what the Lord has done for me...

You oughta been there when He saved my soul
You oughta been there when He put my name on the roll

I'll keep walking
I'll keep talking
I'll keep singing
I'll keep shouting

What the Lord has done for me'

I haven't heard that song in, oh I don't know... 12 years. It took me back to a time when I got caught in the infamous spiritual high that you get from retreats or getaways. It got me to think about the meaning of the song.

Have I kept talking about it? Not as much as I should...to 'outsiders'. Have I sung about it? Couldn't really tell from the playlist on my iPod. I have really made an effort in the days since WF to look at my actions at work, at home, nay even at church. Do people see me walking, talking, singing, and when necessary shouting about what Jesus has done for me. Perhaps this whole thought process is a bit junior highish, but is it?

This morning Gary Bradley stepped on my toes. And the real shocking part is that he didn't even hesitate when he did it...just WHAM!!!! got all ten toes at once. Couldn't believe it! The minister of all people. Now if you've seen Gary you know he is not a small man, so you know how much force he has when he steps.

Why did he step on my toes you ask? Because he used the word to pierce my heart...

"Be wise in the way you act toward outsiders; make the most of every opportunity. Let your conversation be always full of grace, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how to answer everyone"

And if that wasn't enough he followed that up with

With it we bless our God and Father, and with it we curse men, who have been made in the similitude of God. Out of the same mouth proceed blessing and cursing. My brethren, these things ought not to be so.

Is your speech always full of grace and seasoned with salt? Do you praise God and then talk bad about someone else?

My toes still hurt.

We interrupt this blog to bring you a special message...

2008-02-22T06:56:00.000-08:00

Good Morning Everybodeeeee!!!!!

Elmo just wanted to let eveyone who checks this blog know

that TODAY is Jon's 29th birthday!!!!

So....If you wouldn't mind, maybe you could leave Jon a message

to let him know you're thinking of him today! :)

New New Year's Resolutions

2007-12-28T13:18:00.000-08:00

Long time no post!

I'm sure you have kept up with all the happenings around the Stacy household over the past few months on Stacy's blog...so I won't bore you with all the details.

This has been a relaxing trip to my parent's house in Oklahoma, I say trip because we have kids with us. It is only a vacation when you don't have any kids with you :) It has been good to come home for the first time in 2 years. It doesn't seem like it has been that long since I have been back here, my wife has seen my parents more than I have in the last 2 years. It has been interesting just to see how much this town has changed in the 11 years since I left here for the metropolis of Searcy, AR. There have been a flood of memories, good and not so good. All in all it has been a good trip yet I am looking forward to returning to a little normalcy and getting to sleep in my own king size bed so that Stacy is barking at me to scoot closer to the edge of the bed in the queen-size we are sleeping in here. But back to the business at hand...

The new year is approaching and last year I took on quite a monster of a resolution to eat no sweets or fried foods and drink only water......yeah... that lasted till about the middle of Feb. So this year I have some new changes to make. I will turn 29 this Feb and would like to be about 65 - 75 pounds lighter by the time I reach my 30th. So instead of placing such extreme restrictions on myself this year I am going with...

1) No pop/coke/soda
2) Sweets only at celebrations (weddings/b-days/anniversaries) and only one serving.
3) Work-out 4-5 days a week.

For family/spiritual changes...
1) Pray with Stacy at least 5 times a week.
2) Read the corresponding Proverbs chapter for the day of the month - No more than 31 days in a month and 31 chapters in Proverbs?!
3) Focus on kids from time I get home from work till they go to bed. Right now I get home between 5:30 and 6 and the kids go to bed between 8:30 and 9 that's only 3 hours.
4) Leave work between 4:30 and 5.

Well, there you have it....

Any takers on the food/work out resolutions....Jason?

61, 73, 7??

2007-08-05T14:59:00.000-07:00

All of these numbers should have an * next to them in the record books.

61 should have an asterisk next to it simply to denote that Maris hit 61 homers in more games than it took Ruth to hit.

73 and 7?? should have asterisks next to them to denote that the baseball records have for ever been tainted as well as the dignity of the game.

* - used performance enhancing products.

You Know You Grew Up In the 80's if:

2007-08-04T11:26:00.000-07:00

So since it's been over a month since my last post, I had a good reason, I though I would help you take a trip down memory lane. Enjoy!

1. You've ever ended a sentence with the word SIKE.

2. You can sing the rap to the Fresh Prince of Bel-Air and can do the Carlton

3. You know that "WOAH" comes from Joey on Blossom

4. If you ever watched "Fraggle Rock"

5. It was actually worth getting up early on a Saturday to watch cartoons.
6. You wore a ponytail on the side of your head.

7. You got super-excited when it was Oregon Trail day in computer class at school.

8. You made your mom buy one of those clips that would hold your shirt in a knot on the side.

9. You played the game "MASH"(Mansion, Apartment, Shelter, House)

10. You wore stonewashed Jordache jean jackets and were proud of it.

11. You know the profound meaning of " WAX ON , WAX OFF"

12. You wanted to be a Goonie.

13. You ever wore fluorescent clothing. (some of us...head-to-toe)

14. You can remember what Michael Jackson looked like before his nose fell off and his cheeks shifted.

15. You have ever pondered why Smurfette was the only female smurf.

16. You took lunch boxes to school...and traded Garbage Pailkids in the schoolyard.

17. You remember the CRAZE, then the BANNING of slap bracelets.

18. You still get the urge to say "NOT" after every sentence.

19. You thought your childhood friends would never leave because you exchanged handmade friendship bracelets.

21. You ever owned a pair of Jelly-Shoes.

22. After you saw Pee-Wee's Big Adventure you kept saying "I know you are, but what am I?"

23. You remember "I've fallen and I can't get up"

24. You remember going to the skating rink before there were inline skates.

25. You have ever played with a Skip-It.

26. You remember boom boxes and walking around with one on your shoulder like you were all that.

27. You remember watching both Gremlins movies.

28. You thought Doogie Howser/Samantha Micelli was hot.

29. You remember Alf, the lil furry brown alien from Melmac.

30. You remember New Kids on the Block when they were cool...and don't even flinch when people refer to them as "NKOTB"

31. You knew all the characters names and their life stories on "Saved By The Bell," The ORIGINAL class.

32. You know all the words to Bon Jovi - SHOT THROUGH THE HEART.

33. You just sang those words to yourself.

34. You still sing "We are the World"

35. You tight rolled your jeans.

36. You owned a bannana clip.

37. You remember "Where's the Beef?"

38. You used to (and probably still do) say "What you talkin' 'bout Willis?"

39. You're still singing shot through the heart in your head, aren't you!

Apathocracy

2007-07-03T17:21:00.000-07:00

Evidently 3 people account for 150+ hits in 3 days and I am sure they are tired of reading about me, I will move on.

An Apathocracy! This is what America has become. Everyone is apathetic to the plight of those around them. Don't believe me? Just look at the news.

Chicago, Ill: An off-duty police officer became enraged when the bartender refused to keeping serving him alcohol and he subsequently beat her while everyone in the bar looked on.

Detroit, Mi: A 72 year-old WWII veteran was beaten in the head 30+ times by a would-be carjacker while a crowd formed around the scene and stood there and watched. He was left paralyzed from the neck down and passed away 10 days later from injuries he sustained.

Wichita, KS: A young female was stabbed in a robbery at a local convenience store and 5 shoppers continued to peruse the aislses. One even had the audacity to stop and take a picture with a cell phone. She later died at the hospital.

WHAT IS WRONG WITH EVERYONE!!!!

60+ things about me you never knew you didn't want to know...

2007-06-29T08:36:00.000-07:00

1. I am more than a foot taller than my wife.

2. My high school football record was 5-25.

3. I can handle gross stuff on other people but almost passed out watching the nurse put the needle in my arm to give blood.

4. People have always told me when I was younger that I would be a great father....the verdict is still out on that one.

5. I could eat Mexican 365 days a year.

6. I can fix just about anything.

7. I am good at building things.

8. Ummm.....

9. I had to write an essay so that I could graduate from college.

10.I get emotional at just about everything that has to do with some family dealing with ailments with their kids.

11.My Wish on ESPN almost makes me cry every time.

12.I dread the day my dad dies because I will have no one to go to with life's questions.

13.I wear a size 8 in fitted hats...and that is comfortable only when I have my hair cut.

14.When I was younger I was always told that how funny it would be if I married a girl with the first name Stacy. Ha, if they could only see me now!!!

15.I have been between jobs for 2 1/2 months and have gotten to see Jordan and Lawson grow up more everyday and have loved every moment of it!

16.I don't get wound up about much.

17.I can have all the patience in the world with people except people in my family...and I am trying to change that.

18.I am the biggest critic of anything that I do.

19.I never feel that I have done all I can do.

20.The middle half of both my front teeth are fake...before that people never knew whether to smile at me or kick a field goal.

21.If I could do it over again I would have enlisted with the Marines after 9/11.

22.I can grill like no ones business.

23.I make some mean pancakes.

24.I really do love to camp....no showers needed.

25.I have climbed to the tallest point in the 48 contiguous states.(Bonus points if you know where that is)

26.I have been to every state except Hawaii, Alaska, and the New England states.

27.My dad won a performance award from work and I got $100 bucks to spend on whatever I wanted.

28.The above mentioned prize was $10,000.

29.My left foot is 1/2 size bigger than my right.

30.My only 'tic' is that I bounce my legs when I am sitting down.

31.The right side of my face is always pruned because my wife has an obsession with pulling hairs while I am driving.

32.I don't like for people I don't know well to touch my prized possessions.

33.I pull for the Chiefs year after heartbreaking year.

34.My mom is from Canada.

35.My dad is from Michigan.

36.My wife is from Michigan.

37. I call it POP!!!

38.This is getting easier as it goes on.

39.I love to be outdoors.

40.I love to hunt.

41.I love to fish.

42.With 2 kids I don't get to do much of either right now.

43.With 2 kids I can't wait to share with them my love of the outdoors.

44.I love NASCAR.

45.I have met the other Jonathan Edward Stacy.

46.My son is the first male in my family not to have Edward as a middle name.

47.I married my best friend.

48.My wife makes me want to be a better person.

49.I am obsessed with history.

50.I look exactly like my dad and I like that.

51.I am ticklish.

52.I don't talk much on road trips and my wife thinks I am mad at her.

53.Spiders give me the heeby geebies.

54.I jump at scary movies.

55.I always laugh at bodily noises, especially my kids'

56.I move that #38 be stricken from the record.

57.I am not PC and don't care to hear PC stuff from other people...just shoot me straight.

58.I don't like sitting on warm toilet seats...it means some other rearend was just on it...BLAH!!!

59.I am a big softy.

60.I was the world's biggest jerk in college my sophomore and junior years and I try to tell the kids in our huddles about it so they won't have to live with the same mistakes.

61.I won the state science fair when I was in the 10th grade.

62.I set the deadlift record in high school my senior year at 580 lbs.

63.I wasn't an accountant I would be a history teacher.

64.I hate shopping...and require a minimum of 3 days notice to psych myself up for the abuse.

65.I can get into any sport that is on TV. Especially during the Olympics...Go USA!!!

66.If I meet someone and tell them I am from Oklahoma 99.9% of the time they start to sing...."OOOOOOklahoma where the wind comes sweeping down the plains....." If not out loud then in their head....you just did!

67.My all time favorite band, and arguably one of the best from the early '90s is STP.

68.I give my wife 3 kisses everynight before bed.

69.Somewhere in my family tree I am related to Al Gore....shhhh don't tell him that.

70.Women in my family outlive the men by an average of 20 years.

71.That sucks.

72.I don't like to shave. EVER

73.I mix up the syllables in words, mainly when I am speaking in class or in front of a crowd. My all time greats are "Would you prease play with me?" and "We will be studying Neha and Ezramiah."

74.My number in high school

75.It is hard for me to sleep much past 7 a.m.

76.I am not good at Boggle or Scrabble.

77.I was born in Kansas City, MO. on George Washington's birthday.

78.This is way more than 60 things.

79.I was born in '79 so I will stop here!

Well, there you have it.

Leave me a comment so I can know who reads my blog...and tell me which fact you liked the best.

Scrushy, Siegleman, The Office, and Amazing Developments

2007-06-29T08:12:00.000-07:00

Okay, so I have started to try and watch The Office. Everyone just raves about what a funny show it is. It is very funny when, WAFF 48 isn't breaking in every 5 minutes to tell me that Siegleman and Scrushy have been sentenced. Honestly, why do you deem it important to break in and tell me the same thing that has been scrolling across the bottom of the screen? Isn't that what the 10 o'clock news is for. You know on ESPN they scroll info across the bottom and because of some of that information that is on there my interest is piqued and I want to see what it is about. But when you keep sssssssssccccccccrrrrrrrrrooooooooolllllliiiiiiinnnnnnggggggg the SAME thing and it is pretty self explanatory...DON'T CUT IN!!! Nobody cares to see a picture of the courthouse in Montgomery with some random people walking out of it.

Ok now on to more important information...

People are taking notice to the improvements in the grades and attitudes of the children that are involved in the Huntsville Inner City Learning Center.

Habitat for Humanity has approached the center with some extremely exciting news. They are going to choose the 5 most deserving families whose kids are attending the Learning Center and build those families homes to get them out of the projects. I am pumped about this. What a way for these families to break the cycle!!!

The Huntsville Housing Authority has also seen the improvements of these students as productive citizens and classmates and has come to this...For a certain amount of improvement in their grades they will reduce the rent for their family and for an even greater improvement in grades they will completely ELIMINATE their rent. What a blessing that will be!!!

The splendor of a King, clothed in majesty
Let all the earth rejoice
All the earth rejoice

He wraps himself in Light, and darkness tries to hide
And trembles at His voice
Trembles at His voice

How great is our God, sing with me
How great is our God, and all will see
How great, how great is our God

Age to age He stands
And time is in His hands
Beginning and the end
Beginning and the end

The Godhead Three in One
Father Spirit Son
The Lion and the Lamb
The Lion and the Lamb

Name above all names
Worthy of all praise
My heart will sing
How great is our God

How great is our God, sing with me
How great is our God, and all will see
How great, how great is our God

Collision Course Redux

2007-06-27T13:32:00.000-07:00

First let me express my deep appreciation for all of those who have been in prayer on my family's behalf. I have yet to go through what I would call a 'traumatic time' but this was definitely a stressful time. I always hear from those who have had stressful times remark how wonderful it felt to know that others were concerned and were praying for them. To those who sent the encouraging text messages or called just to see how things were going. Thanks! Now I can say how wonderful it felt to get those messages and phone calls to let me know that you were concerned and were praying about it.

So....I start next Friday, yeah I know what a long work week, at Southern Stone Design. It is a small company at the moment, but keep track of this one. It has empire written all over it. I am excited, pumped-up, giddy ( no, what scratch that last description), about starting with this company. The potential with them is endless and I will get to have more of an impact on the business, which is what I missed about being in management. But as time drew near for my faith to collide with my fear I started pondering the real meaning of God's promises to us.

Do we make God's promises fit our lifestyle? Dr. Lavendar from Lipscomb spoke on facing our giants in Praise & Prayer last Wednesday night and it only reaffirmed my question. God says "... do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear." If we had come to a point where the money ran out and we lost our house or we had to sell our clothes to pay bills....or, well, let's just use real examples. How about Kathy Darby, Kay Zorn, or Jim Osco. All of these people lost things in Katrina. Kay lost here entire house. Everything. Total loss. But she could move in with her sister in Chattanooga and start over. She didn't have any food but the brothers and sisters at Ocean Springs C o C provided meals for her. God took care of her. He held up to his end of the bargain. But I have heard of people that lost their house because of job situations and couldn't afford the same clothing that they had become accustomed too. And they wondered where God was in keeping his promise about them not worrying about what they would wear. They completely missed the point. This point was one that was hard to realize in our situation. We prayed for a job to provide for us, but the promise isn't that we will eat anything we want from any restaurant we want or the we will wear clothes bought from any store we wanted. If we lost our home and our belongings and had to move in with parents or friends or a shelter and eat from a soup kitchen. What part of that life would not be what God said he would do. We would have shelter and we would have food and we would have the clothes on our backs.

I think that we try to make God fit our lifestyle and we try to make His promises fit the standard of living that He has blessed us with. I think that this thinking is entirely false and set us up for a big slap in the face and huge test of just how real our faith is....

Am I wrong here?

Are there other promises that we twist to fit our lifestyles?

Just a few things...

2007-06-14T14:07:00.000-07:00

One thing/phrase I am beyond tired of hearing is...."they [illegals] are doing the jobs that Americans won't do." Give me a break....why don't you tell the truth. 'They' aren't doing jobs that Americans won't do they are doing jobs for pay that Americans can't take. Don't blame illegals for taking American's jobs; blame the construction companies for violating federal laws and paying under minimum wage and paying cash at that.

On another note these Conn. kids have it soooo hard. To all the parents complaining....Shut up! You see approx 2000 kids will have to repeat the grade they just completed because they have over 19 unexcused absences. The decision was made by the School Board to make kids repeat the grade if they have excessive absences. For the 05-06 school year on avg. 1500 kids missed school each day in the Waterbury, CN school district. It's about time the school boards to matters into their own hands and started punishing truancy. If you want to advance then come to class.

Those who need prayers...

2007-06-07T05:53:00.000-07:00

Corey & Alisha --- have some extremely sad news

Ryan & Katrina & Abigail Grace --- born at 24 weeks

A Collision Course

2007-06-01T06:11:00.000-07:00

So right now I am, oh how do you say, 'Between opportunities'.

This has definitely been a lesson in patience. A lesson in waiting. It was easy in the beginning but now it has gotten down to crunch time. The time when my fear is going to collide with my faith is drawing near. The time has come to take real stock of my faith. To not just recite promises or verses, but to really trust them. Not a time to just rattle off 'cliches' but to take real hope in them. To lean not on my own understanding. To rest on the promises. But what are these. What comfort is there in scripture. This is what I want to look at.

The promise of a constant companion.

Deut 31:6,8, Joshua 1:5. These are familiar verses but they have taken on new meaning. I don't challenge God that His word is true, but I challenge myself to really believe these words spoken to Joshua thousands of years ago. It is easy to recite and say 'We'll you know (name) things are tight, but God has said that He will never leave or forsake us.' Easy to say/type (I just did it) but much harder to actually say 'God, my way obviously doesn't work, you have said it now it's time to believe it.'

Psalms 9:10. A psalm written in the aftermath of the death of a son, yet David pens these words with the conviction that no matter what the trial or tragedy God WILL be there for His people. If I stick to my guns then the Lord will stick to His. But to me the real pick-me up is in verse 11. Sing praises to the LORD, enthroned in Zion; Proclaim among the nations what He has done. Tell those around you what God has done in your life. How has God guided you through trials. Proclaim it. In the words of Luigi (from my son's favorite movie 'Cars') "I must scream it from the top of some place very high; my excitement." Let the world know just how great God is. My faith is colliding with my fear and that excites me to see what God will do.

The promise of being provided for.

Matthew 6:25-34. These verses are the easiest to quote or remember but the hardest to really trust in. As a man you what to provide for your family. You want to make sure there is food on the table and clothes on their backs and a roof over their head. You want to do that and sometimes we can't. Our plans fail. Our plans leave us wanting. But God's plan don't. When we follow God's will and adhere to His commands then we can truly rely on His words, because, well let's face it at the end of the day that is all that there really is. Again my fear is on collision course with my faith and I couldn't be more excited.

So do not worry, saying, 'What shall we eat?' or 'What shall we drink?' or 'What shall we wear?' For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them. But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.

Do I really believe this? Do you really believe that God will provide the necessities of life? Does God really care?

Psalms 55:22, Nahum 1:7, 1 Peter 5:7 convey to me that God is waiting there for me. He wants me to unload the stress and pain of worry onto Him. He wants me to know that He cares for me. He wants me to know that He is my 'ever-present help in trouble' Psalms 46:1.

There is a song that we sang Wednesday night in the Rock and it's words really challenge me.

When the sun's shining down on me.

When the world's all as it should be.

Blessed be your name.

That's easy enough but the real challenge to me is in the following lyrics:

When the darkness closes in, Lord

Still I will say...Blessed be the name of the Lord

Just like in the movie 'Facing the Giants' the question is posed to the wife if she will still love the Lord even if they never have children.

Will I still love the Lord even when time are rough?

My fear and faith are colliding ....Blessed be the name of the Lord!

The Joy of Uncertainty?!

2007-05-18T06:05:00.000-07:00

When I first heard this phrase, I was, well, I was skeptical. I attended a YBL Breakfast at Adtran this morning and Dr. Marvin Carroll of Tec-Masters, Inc spoke.

The more I thought about this phrase the more I realized that this needs to be a reflection of my own situation. Can I really have joy in my uncertainty. Uncertainty of money, job, health, even life? My mind tried to find some verse to back this phrase up. I quickly came to James. Consider it pure joy when you have trials he says. Have joy in uncertainty? Why? How can the fact that I don't know when the money will run out or when I will find a new career bring me joy? Faith.

I have to learn to have faith. My faith-life (as the Message refers to it) needs to be open. The doors to this secret compartment of my heart must be flung open. Not just open but taken off the hinges never to be closed again! I admit that on the outside I can seem cool and collected while inwardly I am a scrambled mess. A scrambled mess because of uncertainty and, what I perceive at the time, failure. I need to rejoice that my faith is being tested. I need to have joy that even though there are so many balls in the air that I can't juggle them all there is someone there to juggle them for me. Joy that I have a hope and a future. Joy that God knows my every need. Joy that I have not gone hungry in the past, although I could stand to skip a couple of meals, and I won't go hungry in the future. Joy that my life is a mosaic.

What happens today does not define Jon Stacy. What happens today does not define tomorrow because tomorrow has yet to happen. The events of today are mere a piece of the mosaic that is my life. Have you ever seen a mosaic? There is a museum in my hometown that has a huge mosaic on the entrance to it. Up close the mosaic looks jumbled. A big mess. Some pieces don't fit where they are placed. Some look all wrong. Yet when you back up and look at the big picture, they all come together to make a beautiful portrait. My problem is that I tend to have a very myopic, point-in-time view of my life.

Sometimes I can't see the forest through the trees. I lose sight of the fact that I am only 28 years old. I know that my days are numbered, and I pray that I have many, many left, but the point remains the same...I cannot change the past and I can't create the future. Tomorrow has yet to be written and I control my reaction to the events of today. And it is in that that I can have joy. The events of today do not define my life. They are just a piece of the mosaic that God is putting together. And this fact is one that I tend to forget.

I forget to pray for things that should be in my every prayer. When I was a manager I don't think I ever prayed for guidance on how to handle situations or that I would meet sales goals or that I would be successful. And really it is ridiculous to not do so. I mean, correct me if I'm wrong here, but God has a pretty good track record of making the right decision on how to handle any and every situation. Looking back I was naive and thought I could do it on my own. I was the reason I was successful. But being successful is all relative. I was successful in terms of meeting sales goals. In the first full year of business I lead the store to over $1 million dollars in sales. It was a new store in a market where 2 competitors had split the market share and I took all the market share away from one of those competitors, so much market share that the owners shut it down. Business was booming and I was the one responsible for it. Ha, how naive of me to assume that I did this all on my own. That I was that good. Well, I thought that and looking back on those years, I realize just how segregated my life was. My spiritual life had no influence on my business life. I was good at one, as I described above, but was completely lacking in the other. And this is where I find myself now.

I must work on my spiritual life, because it is in it that I must find joy. I must find myself making my spiritual life...successful, if one could ever consider it successful.

Conscience or Commitment

2007-05-07T19:56:00.000-07:00

There was a 'fund raiser' at church about 2 weeks ago for the Inner City. All told, the church exceeded expectations and almost $50,000 was raised to address much needed upkeep at the building. It is fantastic news that the money was raised and several issues will be corrected but for me this event brings several questions to mind.

Why was the building allowed to fall into such disrepair that it will take all 50k and then some to get this building up to date let alone a place that people feel comfortable being in? How was this ministry started and then left to its own success or failure?

In regard to the first question, the roof there leaked worse than a sieve and has been for several years. Had this been the Mayfair building that would have been addressed within the hour the leak was first spotted. Now I know that people can't address a need if they don't about it, but why don't 'we'(Mayfair) know about these types of needs? Why was this not addressed? Why are we not more involved in a ministry that 'we' started?

My answer to these questions lie in the title - Conscience or Commitment. Do 'we' meet the need because it weighs on our conscience? Do we not get involved and address the issues because we fail to make the commitment to the ministry? I have expressed my opinion before that people fly thousands of miles to the Baja or Belize or Honduras, Ghana, Cuba, etc.(which are all very important works and ones that I want to be a part of) yet won't make the commitment to go 2-10 miles to the inner city. Mayfair is a very, very "Mission-minded" church, but there is a difference between being 'mission-minded' and 'missional'. There is really quite a big difference.

A 'mission - minded' church will attend to the needs of others outside of its immediate realm of influence (it should because we are commanded to do) but a 'missional' church addresses those needs and is a light and leader to the needs in it's immediate realm of influence. There is no 'missions' department or minister of a 'missional' church - it's people are it's department and it's ministers. You cannot separate the two from each other - missions is such an integral part of the church that it is the church. But back to the issue of commitment.

It is an easy thing to do, in terms of commitment, to focus for 4 - 10 days on working as hard as you can and then returning home. No doubt about it and you can ask anyone that has been on these trips that you will be changed, in some way, for ever. But it is harder, unfortunately, in terms of commitment to get involved in a ministry that, fortunately, is always just a few miles away. No need to take vacation time, you could though and devote that week to the inner city needs. No need to raise $500+ to pay for a trip, you could though and spend that money to address needs of the church or simply attend services there and place the money in the offering plate. No need to have to struggle with the language barrier, although you will have a much tougher barrier to cross. The socio-economic barrier. You will have to step into a world much much different than the one you live in. You will have to interact with people that you drive pass everyday. These are the people that I have judged in my mind. People that make me wonder and ask "Why don't you just go get a job, McDonald's is hiring!?" These are the people that will haunt your thoughts after you have been touched by their stories and plight. These are people that really aren't all that different from you.

Take away the clothes that smell and are probably tattered. Take away their plight or unusual circumstance, and you will find someone created in the image of God. You will find someone who struggles with temptations. Someone searching for some hope in this world.

As far as the second question goes I have just one thing to say. Go ahead and make a commitment to visit the church or the Learning Center. I guarantee you that you will see a need that you can fill. And I guarantee that it will weigh on your conscience to address the needs that need to be met.

So really, what is it that is holding you back? You can be apart of great ministries that are already going on there. You (if you're a woman) can get involved in Wonderful Wednesdays for Women and spend time in a bible study with the women of the congregation. You can get involved in the Tuesday night bus ministry. You could devote time on Sundays to worshipping with the congregation there. They start at 11:00. That gives you time to worship at Mayfair and attend class, but leave a little early to drive the 3 miles to the church building. Again, try it. I dare you to. After all Jesus didn't come to sit and eat and minister to those who needed nothing but to those who needed everything.

Why doesn't this surprise me

2007-05-04T07:00:00.000-07:00

Time magazine is publishing it's list of the 100 people who shape the world. On the list:
Oprah Winfrey - ok I'll go with this, she uses her influence to make much needed changes.
Brad Pitt - ?
George Clooney - again ?
Justin Timberlake - ???
and numerous other actors and actresses, but the real kicker is this

Rosie O'Donnell - can someone please explain to me how this list of talking heads shapes the world.

I don't have the full list yet but I wouldn't be surprised to see:
George Bush - excluded
Mahmoud Ahmadinejad - excluded
Osama Bin Laden - excluded
Bill Clinton - maybe included because he is a Dem - but should be since he left us weak and vulnerable so the person preceding him on this list could carry out the Sept. 11 attacks and the first twin towers bombing - but his wife/partner/what ever she is Hilary Clinton did make the list

Maybe I just don't get out much but could someone please explain how my life is different because Rosie, Timberlake, Hilary Clinton, Pitt, or anyother windbag from Hollywood ever existed or uttered a useless bit of info, like how "It defies physics for fire to melt steel" - Rosie on the View -Ummm, how do you think you melt steel then...

They should have -
Benjamin Franklin
Thomas Edison
Henry Ford
Marie Currie
Louis Pasteur
Winston Churchill
Stalin
Lenin
Mussolini
Hitler
Columbus
Magellan
Cortez
Lincoln
Eisenhower
Franklin Roosevelt
Truman
Kennedy
Castro
Carter
Iatolla Komeni
Margret Thatcher
George Washington
George Bush
Bill Clinton
Bill Gates
Orville Wright
Wilbur Wright
Mahmoud Ahmadinejad
Osama Bin Laden
Ghandi
Mother Theresa

Well, there's 30 and some change, took me all of 5 minutes to fart that out. Think of anymore?

Why I am going to get rid of Direct TV!

2007-05-03T08:38:00.000-07:00

One simple reason. They drilled a HOLE in the floor. Now I have hole, not only in the carpet but in my HARDWOOD FLOORS!

Below is my email to Direct TV customer service.

We have been pleased with the service that we have received from Direct TV until we recently moved into our current home. The installer drilled a hole through our carpet and wood floors to install the cable for the receiver. I now will have to leave the TV where it is or when/if we sell the house replace the carpet or possibly replace the wood flooring. I am extremely displeased at the idea that your company would be so careless and disrespectful of your clients property as to drill a hole in the floor. There is an existing cable outlet where the TV sits and it would have seemed obvious to me to run the cable through the wall like it should be, but instead the installer drilled a hole in my carpet and through the wood floor. The receiver was installed several months ago and I was not aware of this shoddy workmanship until I moved the TV to wire in a new component. I want to know what Direct TV plans to do to remedy this gross misconduct and clear disregard for my property.

Is that your final answer?!

2007-05-03T06:17:00.000-07:00

- Quick note: My wife has finally given into the powers that be and created a blog -

Just a couple of questions for you to consider:

1) What is the non-monetary value of your job to other people?

2) If God were your 'boss', would He hire you to do your job?

O' David where art thou?

2007-04-20T08:26:00.000-07:00

Are you amongst the children that attend the inner city right now? Is your name Jay Jordan? Thomas Cole? Evaughna Ammons? Jasmine Richetts? Perhaps it's Theresa Fletcher who had 3 failing grades in the first semester but has improved to have 2 C's and 1 A in her classes. Just dream with these children. Hope with them. Love them. You see they aren't any different than my own children. Than your children. Than your grandchildren. They have hopes. Dreams. Aspirations.

Is there a 'David' among these children? Where is the inner city's 'shepherd boy' that will lead others to follow their dreams? Is there one amongst these that will break the cycle? Go on to college and a career that is merely a far off dream for most of these?

Will one of these children come back and 'preach' to the others and say emphatically..."You CAN do it! You can dream and you can achieve those dreams! I know that the mountain in front of you is tall and rugged but I made it and so can you!" I believe there is, but this begs the question be asked...

Who will teach them? Who will lead them? Who will help them dream? Is this person already here? It is it Art Leslie? Lee Nipper? Diane Petty? Erin McAllister? Emily McRight? Doug Driskill? Jan Peakinson? Or the many others who devote just 4 hours a week? The answer...it is all of the above. You see, each one of these people have made the sacrifice to invest themselves in the lives of young children because they can see their own children's faces on each of the students faces. Because success isn't an issue of ABILITY it is an issue of AVAILABILITY!

Did you even realize that Huntsville has an Inner City? It does, and 10's of thousands of people drive past them everyday. Yes, it is not centrally located as it might be in Montgomery or Atlanta or L.A., but it is here none-the-less.

Did you know that Huntsville's graduation rate is less than that of the National Average? 59% compared to 68%. The reverse is true as well...The drop-out rate is higher than the national average 41% to 32%. The problem with realizing the need is in the way that I presented the first statistic.

We focus on the positive growth so much in Huntsville that we don't look at the inverse of the successes. It is not that we need to dim the light on the success of those that graduate but we never focus the light on the fact that 4 out of 10 children will not graduate. Are our lives so busy that we can't give up 4 hours a week to make a difference in the lives of one person? Perhaps they are when we have trouble fitting in 15 minutes a day to have some alone time with our own mentor and creator.

It's about time!!!

2007-04-13T17:47:00.000-07:00

That I posted something. And it's about time that America took notice to the racist words that are used in everyday conversation. Some crusty old white guy blurts out a phrase commonly used by blacks and it's on like donkey kong. Here's what I don't understand. Imus has been crude and disrespectful for decades, why all of a sudden is this a big deal. It's a big deal because someone finally had the cohones to stand up and say "That's not right, you shouldn't say that about those girls". And they are right because when you get down to the basics they are made in the image of God just like you and me. The main problem that I have with this issue is that Al Sharpton, who somehow got elected to represent the entire black population, takes issue with these racist comments because, really, lets get honest here...a white guy said it. It is just like the 'n' word is okay for blacks to say to blacks but a white honkey like me says it and 'oh baby' look out. Don't misunderstand me here...NO one should use that word to describe any human being but Al, why have you never taken offense to blacks using offensive language in lyrics of songs and everyday language. And by the way, Al, haven't you been documented as refering to the Greeks as 'homos'.. uh, I believe so. And don't try to get the 'slogan' 'don't strip scholarship' Jackson, or should I say... Jesse "Himeytown" Jackson involved here. Where is the outcry against these racial slurs? And while we're looking at inconsistencies what about Hilary "I'm having trouble controlling the VOLUME OF MY VOICE" Clinton who has publicly expressed here disdain for the comments and yet has no problem taking $800,000.00 from a record producer who puts out his own albums in which one 3 minute song contains the 'n' word 24 times. Double standard or does money cover a multitude of sins....

Happy Birthday!!!

2007-02-22T05:37:00.000-08:00

To ME!!!!

28. 2 more and I'll be old like Jason!!! Man...

Unfortunately I don't feel any wiser, maybe a few more aches (probably because I ran yesterday) but not much wiser. Why? Probably because I haven't placed a huge emphasis on pursuing wisdom as the Proverb says "Wisdom is supreme; therefore get wisdom. Though it cost all you have, get understanding"

But is gaining wisdom really worth costing all that I have?

I think that this verse answers that question...

"Choose my instruction instead of silver, knowledge rather than choice gold, for wisdom is more precious than rubies, and nothing you desire can compare with her. "

So wisdom demands that it be sought no matter what the cost because the value of it is worth far more than what it cost to get it. How do you get it?

"If any of you lacks wisdom, he should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to him. But when he asks, he must believe and not doubt, because he who doubts is like a wave of the sea, blown and tossed by the wind."

Sure we can ask God and I think people only quote the first verse and leave out the qualifying verse about asking for wisdom - one must not doubt, one must believe.

What does it mean "must believe and not doubt..."?

Must believe in God? Must believe God will answer the request? Any ideas?

Just sit down and think about it...

2007-02-15T05:47:00.000-08:00

We read the following passage all the time and (at least for me) only apply it to just being a Christian rather than realizing just how far reaching these qualities need to be. Have you, either as the father or as the mother, really just looked at these as being qualities that you, the father, need to have, and you, the mother, need to see exemplified in your spouse's life.

"fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control."

Have you ever really read this verse from Galatians with the perspective of having all of these qualities as a father?

Sure some of these come easily...Love, of course we love our family - do they see us love live out this love?

Peace? Maybe not so easy. How about patience? Got this one down pat! Yeah right.

We might live these out in day-to-day activities with those we have little contact with but do we live them around our families?

How about another list of qualities we should have as a man of God...

"Now the overseer must be above reproach, the husband of but one wife, temperate, self-controlled, respectable, hospitable, able to teach, not given to drunkenness, not violent but gentle, not quarrelsome, not a lover of money. He must manage his own family well and see that his children obey him with proper respect."

Sure this list is from Paul's letter to Timothy concerning the qualities that leaders in the church should have, but this is another list we skim over because it is prefaced with "Now the overseer..." Overseer. I am not an Overseer - of a church, but I am called by God to be the leader of my home. To do that in (warning: standard C of C phrase coming) a manner pleasing to God then I cannot simply 'skim' these qualities and write them off as only pertaining to being an overseer or elder.

These two lists are not all that different from one another - in fact one cannot have the qualities of the fruit of the Spirit and not have the other. But can on have the qualities of the overseer and not the bear the fruits of the Spirit? I think so.

Signs that I am a REDNECK

2007-02-14T09:57:00.000-08:00

Happy Valentine's Day to ME!!!

What I got for Valentine's Day...

Biblical Command or Societal Acceptance?

2007-02-12T09:49:00.000-08:00

"For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and be united to his wife, and they will become one flesh." - Genesis 2:24

The question arose in bible class yesterday about what exactly determines marriage in differnt cultures. At one of the churches in Baja, the minister is encountering the issue of couples being 'legally' married. Many of the members of the church are 'living' together but have not been officially married by the government. Some have been together a short time, others have been together for 10, 15, even 20 years. They have lived their lives devoted to one another and been faithful to each other. The issue is whether or not they are livng in sin by not being offically married by the government. Many are not married because of the money (which they don't have) required to pay for all the tests and forms to record them as married...so the question in class came about as how to address this.

Even here in America a couple can have a 'common law' marriage and be recognized as having been offically married for all legal intents and purposes. This got me thinking about what we as the church determine as being married. When do you become married in the eyes of the church? Is there a biblical command that it must be done before a state recognized authority and have witnesses? If there isn't then when do people determine that they are married? When is premarital sex committed?

If indeed we are governed by the laws of the land and it states that you must be married in front of a state approved authority or that you are considered married after "X" amount of time, then what do you tell these couples? You are living in sin because the church in America has adopted the 'theology' that if you aren't 'legally' (keep in mind common law marriages) then you are living in sin.

Can these people be convicted after reading the word that they aren't married and are living in sin and need to get married? If they are, then are they convicted that it must be legal, even thought there is no scripture (that I have found) that commands this? Our are they living in sin because they have not followed the laws of the land? I am interested if this is a new topic or I am just late in getting around to it? Thoughts?

A new path...

2007-02-08T05:51:00.000-08:00

Thanks to a good friend for pointing out inconsistencies in the subject matter of the posts on my blog. I have gone back and forth on whether or not to delete the posts that are obviously contridictory to the theme of the blog, I have decided to leave them only to serve as a reminder to myself that this blog needs to have the content that is "only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen." Hence the new name and different template.

What you will now be able to find on this blog is a repository of my thoughts on scriptures and themes from the Bible and how they affect my life. You will find what I struggle with in the scriptures as I try to discern what it means to be a "Man of God" and what exactly it means to be "spiritually mature". Can these be obtained? How does one obtain them? Not every post will be of a spiritual nature but most will have some thoughts that are provoked from a passage that either I have recently read or one that has come back to the front of my mind as I try to live out my faith daily. I will also continue to bring to the forefront the good work that is carried on at the Inner City Church of Christ as I continue to develop my love for this ministry.

So as the apostle Paul wrote to the church in Corinth about the transformation that takes place when one becomes a "new creation" in Christ so this blog has taken on a new form as I seek to express my thoughts as I go through this life. May you be blessed as you read this as much I am blessed by writing this.

Prayer Request

2007-02-07T06:47:00.000-08:00

Stacy got a call last night that her cousin, Kristi, was in a serious car accident with her 1 1/2 year old son, Logan. They had to be med-flighted 2 1/2 hours to Memphis. Logan, fortunately, seems to only have cuts, bruises, and a swollen black eye. Kristi, however, is in quite serious condition. She is in ICU on a ventilator and listed as critical. They are still assessing her for her injuries, but so far know she has a broken back, a broken collar bone, a lacerated liver, and severe cuts on the left side of her face and body. This is the second time a car accident has caused her to have a broken back. 4-5 years ago she was involved in another wreck so her health and body condition were already compromised. Logan & Kristi are in different hospitals right now. She is a single mom just about to finish her nursing degree this year. Please pray for Logan's continued good prognosis and for Kristi's status to improve so she can continue to be a mom for her little boy.

I'll take that wager!

2007-02-06T13:05:00.000-08:00

If they are going to keep this up then we should let the illegals stay and send the tree-hugging hippie homos over to the Middle East.

The homos have a proposal that if a heterosexual couple gets married they have to have kids in 3 years or have their marriage annuled. We'll queer eye I'll take that wager - on one condition - you have to prove the same thing!! My guess is that it will not work - EXIT ONLY!!!

Weekend Checklist:

2007-01-26T15:13:00.000-08:00

Stacy is going to the Ladies' Retreat for Friday night and Saturday morning.

Let me go over the checklist to make sure I have everything I need to handle the kids on my own.

Hmmm....

Dropper ---- CHECK

Benadryl -----CHECK

Well, that about covers it!!!

Subtitles?!

2007-01-22T14:35:00.001-08:00

Just too funny!!!

The Black Hole

2007-01-20T09:43:00.001-08:00

that is the blogging world.

It has sucked another into its snare.

Thomas Busby

Signs California...

2007-01-19T14:02:00.000-08:00

should be disowned by the rest of the country.

There is legislation to make it illegal to spank your kids.

You could get a year in prison.

Well, I tell you what you tree hugging, hippies.

Come and get me, lock me up. And if it is a year per instance I should be up for 10+ years.

Retards.

Where were the parents?

2007-01-18T14:24:00.000-08:00

Is this story terrible? Absolutely

Should the perps be put away never to see the light of day? Si

But my question is this.

Where were you at parents? What kind of monitoring were you doing of your child's activity on the internet? Perhaps you haven't set the best example of what to look at on the internet?

I mean what is a 15 year old girl doing on the internet talking to older men and then being "lurred" into a meeting.

Let me guess the conversation:

15 year old " Mom, I'm going to meet this guy from the internet. I have never met him but he says he is 18 (probably a senior in HS and she would be 9th maybe 10th grade).

Mom " Okay honey!!! Be careful"

This just flabbergasts me that parents have little more interaction than to know that their kids are in the house or not.

To the parents - Do you care now about what you children are doing on the internet? Guess it wasn't such a hassle after all to "pry" into their online escapades.

I don't know maybe I am insensitive.

Trunk Monkey

2007-01-17T07:48:00.001-08:00

Think I am going to put an order in for Jordan!!!

Help me understand this...

2007-01-16T12:12:00.000-08:00

Here is the link to the story.

To sum it up if you don't want to read it. Two border patrol agents stopped a suspected drug smuggler after he entered the United States illegally. The man resisted arrest, fled the two agents. They allege that he had a gun and they fired on him hitting him the back. The man did not die from the gunshot wound.

Now here is where I need a little help understanding the idiocy of this. Our own government, offers the drug smuggler a deal. If he will testify against these two agents they will not prosecute him for smuggling in 750 pounds of marajuana that has a street value of $1 million dollars. He testifies, drug charges are dropped, he goes free.

1. He entered in here ILLEGALLY!!!
2. He has ILLEGAL DRUGS!!!
3. He FLED police!!!

Is it just me or is there a pattern evolving here that everything this man did was illegal? How can the man come into America illegally, resist arrest, have drugs on him, recieve the consquences for his actions, and then go free. Oh wait he is a minority. Oops forgot about that PART!!!

Why do people jump on stories of injustice for people that are breaking the law but never, ever, ever, ever, ever (get the point) do we hear about the sucesses of minorities in this country.

Quick call Al Sharpton or Jesse Jackson - some minority has been treated unfairly for breaking the law.

Just a side note but the two men ( and I use the term men only in the sense of refering to their gender) are a disgrace to the black Americans and to Dr. King and everything he stood for but that is another blog to follow tomorrow.

Why, Why, Why?

2007-01-15T06:35:00.000-08:00

Why, Why, Why?

Why do we press harder on a remote control when we know the batteries are getting dead?

Why do banks charge a fee on "insufficient funds" when they know there is not enough money?

Why does someone believe you when you say there are four billion stars, but check when you say the paint is wet?

Why doesn't glue stick to the bottle?

Why do they use sterilized needles for death by lethal injection?

Why doesn't Tarzan have a beard?

Why does Superman stop bullets with his chest, but ducks when you throw a revolver at him?

Why do Kamikaze pilots wear helmets?

Whose idea was it to put an "S" in the word "lisp"?

If people evolved from apes, why are there still apes?

Why is it that no matter what color bubble bath you use the bubbles are always white?

Is there ever a day that mattresses are not on sale?

Why do people constantly return to the refrigerator with hopes that something new to eat will have materialized?

Why do people keep running over a string a dozen times with their vacuum cleaner, then reach down, pick it up, examine it, then put it down to give the vacuum one more chance?

Why is it that no plastic bag will open from the end on your first try?

How do those dead bugs get into those enclosed light fixtures?

When we are in the supermarket and someone rams our ankle with a shopping cart then apologizes for doing so, why do we say, "It's all right?" Well, it isn't all right, so why don't we say, "That hurt, you stupid idiot?"

Why is it that whenever you attempt to catch something that's falling off the table you always manage to knock something else over?

In winter why do we try to keep the house as warm as it was in summer when we complained about the heat?

How come you never hear father-in-law jokes?

And my FAVORITE...... The statistics on sanity are that one out of every four persons is suffering from some sort of mental illness. Think of your three best friends -- if they're okay, then it's you.

Implications

2007-01-10T12:12:00.000-08:00

Have you read the verse of the day on my sidebar?

I mean really read it and digest what it is calling us to do?

", so be holy in all you do ." - 1 Peter 1:15-16

Be holy in everything? Surely not? I mean this is this meant to be a standard? Setting the bar kind of high here, aren't ya Peter?

All I do? That would mean:

How I talk to my wife.

How I talk to my kids.

How I think? Whoa, hold on a minute!!! Thinking? Be holy in my thinking. Not to call attention to the elephant in the room but we/I tend to look right past this section when talking about what parts of our lives are to be changed.

Look at what some other scriptures say about our thougthts and how they are judged and how they are to be handled.

"For the word of God is living and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart." - Heb. 4:12

"We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ." - 2 Cor 10:5

How many times do we look back at the day and examine our actions but never look at our thoughts? Do we seem to think they don't count since others can't see them - or can they?

"The good man brings good things out of the good stored up in his heart, and the evil man brings evil things out of the evil stored up in his heart. For out of the overflow of his heart his mouth speaks." - Luke 6:45

Stalkers!!!

2007-01-05T09:37:00.000-08:00

Someone visited my blog 96 times yesterday.

I think I may go private.

Oh, wait that was me, my stat counter was logging my own visits!!!

(Yes, I am being sarcastic!!!)

On another note:

I have emailed you, whose email I know, with a powerpoint of our flip. If you didn't get it and want to see it just email me....jestacy@hotmail.com

Got it fixed:

Scroll all the way to the bottom of the page

\/

Who's with me...?

2007-01-04T09:32:00.000-08:00

Anyone here in Huntsville want a shot at $1,000?

I do.

The trick is getting enough people (5) to commit to seeing this thing through.

To read about it click here.

Update on the House

2007-01-04T06:31:00.000-08:00

With only 2 weeks left I am feeling the 'squeeze' to get this house remodel done on time. I have often toyed with the idea of buying a house and fixing it up and flipping it (mainly because I am addicted to the house flipping shows). After working on this house everyday since closed on December 15, 2006 I now know why people say "I had fun, but I don't know if I would do another one." It is A LOT of work, especially when you are doing it on your own.

My parent's and sister and niece came in town for the Holidays. My mom watched all 3 kids while me, Stacy, my Dad, and Jenny(my sister) worked at the house. If they had not come there is no physical way we could have gotten the things done that we wanted to.

The old phrase, your eyes were bigger than your stomach, could apply here. We bought this house with the idea of doing a 'little' remodeling. I say little as in:

Strip cabinets and repaint
Tile counter tops
Paint: Kitchen, Dining Room, Laundry Room, Downstairs bathroom, downstairs bedroom, Lawson's room, Jordan's room, Our room, Our bathroom, upstairs bathroom.
Move downstairs bathroom door
Knock out wall inbetween dining room and living room
Knock out pass throught window between kitchen and kid's play room
Build island for new oven
Mud over '60's paneling in downstairs bedroom and laundry room, sand it all, and paint it.
Pour concrete pad to make driveway bigger and build carport/garage.
And last but not least....
Clean up the endless supply of pine needles in the yard.

Whew, I am tired just from writing it all down.

Well, since my parents came and the Bybee's are watching the kiddos tonight we will be able to finsih painting upstairs and concentrate on the kitchen/dining room.

What we have done so far..
Well nothing is completed per say but we have:
Painted: Jordan's Room, Lawson's room, downstairs bedroom, upstairs bathroom.
Knocked out walls in living room and kid's play room
mudded paneling in laundry and dwnstrs bedroom
moved door on downstairs bathroom
built island for new oven
stripped cabinets.

Left to do is:
Sand and paint cabinets
Tile cabinets
mud in new door ways/pass through windows
paint: our bedroom/bathroom, kitchen, dining room, downstairs bathroom, laundry room
pour concrete pad
pick up pine needles (UGH!!!)

So if you don't have anything better to do you could come slap me, I mean some paint on the walls.

Tomorrow I will try to post before/during/after pics. I might have to create a .pps file if there are too many.

12 DAYS AND COUNTING!!!

Deaths always come in 3's

2007-01-03T13:36:00.000-08:00

First there was President Ford

Then Saddam Hussein

And with all the sadness and trauma going on in the world at the moment, it is worth reflecting on an event that almost went unnoticed last week, the death of a very important person.

Larry LaPrise, the man who wrote "The Hokey Pokey", died peacefully at the age of 93.

The most traumatic part for his family was getting him into the coffin.
They put his left leg in... and then the trouble started.

Pray for Matt & Rebecca Hill

2007-01-02T06:53:00.000-08:00

The following is an email sent by Rebecca, Matt's wife. Matt is a firefighter here in Huntsville.

Hello everyone,

I want to start by thanking everyone for your prayers, emails and phone calls. It has meant so much to us over the last 24 hours to know just how much we are being prayed for. What happened to Matt yesterday was nothing short of a miracle and the media did not even begin to explain how critical his condition was or just how much God protected him.

At about 12:30, Matt's station responded to a medical call in a bank parking lot. Matt was the first firefighter off of the truck and immediately began tending to the patient inside the car. An elderly lady steered her car into the line of the ATM and attempted to press her brake as she leaned out her window. She pressed the gas instead, sped through the parking lot, hit two firefighters and ran completely over Matt. He was hit in the chest by the car but rolled over so that when the car finally came to a rest, he was pinned underneath with his legs straight out in front of him, bent over double with his chest pressed to his knees. With his body bent he stopped breathing until the car was pulled off nearly 2 minutes later. One of his fellow firefighters resusitated him and he was sent immediately to the ER. After many hours, he was released in a great deal of pain with a broken ankle and a torn MCL for which he will require surgery later this week.

He is now at home and doing very well considering the circumstances. For the most part, we are able to control his pain with medication and he is resting well. We are so thankful that God was with him and that He kept Matt with us. We are also thankful to all of you who prayed for his safety and well being.

As I said before, the phone calls and emails have been so encouraging and we are so grateful for each of you. As the week progresses, we will inform you of any updates.

Rebecca

I can do anything for 1 year...

2006-12-28T08:23:00.000-08:00

This is my wife's motto when it comes to doing things that are a little inconvienient. This phrase mainly refers to the paper route that we do. It seemed like a daunting task at first but now it is not as bad as it first seemed it was going to be.

I have adopted this same motto but in a different way. There was a girl at Harding, her name escapes me at the moment, who was friends with Stacy. Every year she would 'give up' something (i.e. pizza, pop, ice cream, etc...)

This has been my habit for the past 2 years. 2 years ago I decided that I would go one year without drinking any pop. It was hard at first. Cause lets be serious for a moment here, who can eat pizza with out washing it down with a cold pop(or coke, or soda, or whatever you call it but this is my blog and it shall be refered to as pop! End of discussion :).

After a year of no pop I decided to take a big leap and go for water only. Yikes!!! I mean I live in the South and what is the one drink that everyone here has. Yep, that sweet exlir of the Southern Lifestyle ..... Sweet Tea!!! (Just a funny side note here: Jamey had to look the directions for making sweet tea up on the internet when we first moved here) Oops!! :)

Anyways, this decision has been one in which I can definetly tell a difference in how I feel. My energy level is more constant and I don't feel the sudden surge of energy and then sudden drop after the sugar high wears off. Sure there were the occasional slip ups. One time at a 'Shower' after church I had a couple sips of the punch(old habit, and it was only a few weeks into this), then for Super Bowl Sunday I had ginger ale because I had the stomach flu and everyone knows that Ginger Ale/7 up is the only drink that calms the stomach. And then at the Bybee's I had some "Christmas Punch". Hey it was the Holidays and I didn't want to be rude. Well all of this rehash has led me to the point of this blog.

This year I have decided to double up on my things to go without. I need some help in setting the definitions of what this entails so here are the main categories:

No sweets.
No fried foods.

So this eliminates:
Brownies, Sunny's chocolate cake, chocolate chip cookies, pumpkin bars, restaurant mints, suckers, Starburst, Skittles, Snickers, M&M's, Reese's Peanutbutter Cups, Pumpkin Pie, Pecan Pie, cake in general, pies in general, Chili's Molten Lava cake.

Can you think of anything else?

As far as fried foods:

French Fries, chicken nuggets, chicken fingers, KFC Chicken, Fried chicken, fried pork chops.

Anything else for this group?

And I might, might, might stick with water only. I think I will mainly drink water but allow myself to have something else if I desire but stick with water as my main source of drink.

Any other suggestions?

Maybe no pizza either?

Moments & Memories

2006-12-22T07:21:00.000-08:00

Sometime today take a moment of silence to honor those who are/have serving/served this country. Today Micah Gifford will be laid to rest in California at a military cemetery.
May God place His hand of comfort on his family this day and the days to come.

_________________________________________________________

One of my all-time favorite Christmas memories was circa '91. All my sister wanted for Christams was a bike. That was it; simply a bike.

We awoke at the usual o'dark 30 and had to wait for the parents to get up so that we could go get the presents from under the tree. Well in my parents house when you walk out of the hallway and into the living room the foyer is off of the living room. Well parked in the foyer was Jennifer's bike. The funny part was that my parents had her so convinced that she wasn't getting one for Christmas that when she walked past the foyer she stopped, turned, looked at the bike, turned forward again, and walked to the Christmas tree. We unwrapped all the presents and she still hasn't said a word about the bike. My dad finally said "Jenny, isn't there something in the foyer for you?". "No", she replied. "Better make sure and check again", he said.

She got up from the mound of wrapping paper and presents and walked back to the foyer where she then stood in a stupor, let out a shriek, and ran to the bike. She had gotten so convinced that she wasn't getting one that she thought she just imagined what a bike would look like parked there.

We all had a good laugh...

Merry Christmas to all,

Jon, Stacy, Lawson, and Jordan

More thoughts on helping the poor...

2006-12-21T06:46:00.000-08:00

Last night at church, Art Leslie, the minister at the Inner City Church of Christ, spoke to us about the work going on in the inner city of Huntsville. Much of the thoughts to follow are from his talk and mixed in are some on my comments as well.

The jumping off point for his talk was a verse from Galatians 2:10:

Their only suggestion was that we keep on helping the poor, which I have always been eager to do.

In this section of Galatians, Paul has just gone to Jerusalem to be confirmed by Peter, James, and John to be fit for spreading the gospel. As Barnabas and he leave to minster to the Gentiles this is the charge that is given to them from the other apostles.

In all that you do in your ministry don't forget to help the poor.

How can we really help the poor?

You have to be involved personally. You have to get involved in someone else's life and let go of your own hangups and really help that person.

Can you just give money? Sure but I just can't see that that is all we are called to do. Is just giving money really helping? Is that really working? If we don't get involved physically are we just, as Paul says, a clanging gong or a resounding cymbal. Is our faith dead? Do we lack the works in our faith to make it alive?

You see the rich young ruler didn't quite get it. You remember the story...The man comes to Jesus and asks what he must do to enter into eternal life and Jesus tells him to keep the commandments. The man says that he has done all of this. Then Jesus gets down to where the "rubber meets the road" and tells the man ...

"If you want to be perfect, go, sell your possessions and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me."

What was the man's response...I can't do that. I am too rich. That would mean me getting involved in someones life. Nope can't do it, can't help the poor.

Maybe we are too concerned about our possessions. I like my stuff, I like stuff in general. I am very particular about who touches my stuff. Most of my stuff the I like I keep locked up for only me to play with. You know what is going to happen to my stuff when I leave the world and go to be with my Father. Nothing! It will sit right where it is when I die and stay here.

The Rich Fool didn't get it either. He had an abundance of crops and decided to keep it all to himself, so he built bigger barns to store it all in so the he would have all that he wanted.

Listen to what God told him...

"'You fool! This very night your life will be demanded from you. Then who will get what you have prepared for yourself?' This is how it will be with anyone who stores up things for himself but is not rich toward God."

Let's go back to the apostles charge to Paul and Barnabas.

In all that you do in your ministry. When you get together to worship. When you get together to fellowship. When you get together to pray. When you go out in the world and walk with the Lord. Don't Forget To Help The Poor.

You see you can't be complete or as Jesus told the rich young ruler. "You can't be perfect" without helping the poor. Without getting involved with someone and helping them.

I am a big fan of Proverbs. Why? Because they are true facts of life. Everything in there will guide you to be a better person, father/mother, wife/husband, business man, and disciple of God. Read this Proverbs and tell me it doesn't sum up the previous two stories that I referred to.

Proverbs 28:27

"He who gives to the poor will lack nothing, but he who closes his eyes to them receives many curses."

So here is my challenge to you. Get involved in the ministry that helps the poor. If you live in Huntsville, I challenge you to go down to the inner city and worship with the brothers and sisters there and not feel changed when you leave. Go with you eyes and heart open to the needs of the people who meet there. I challenge you to get involved with the poor there. If you live elsewhere, I challenge you to do the same. If your church doesn't have a ministry, start one.

Here is an even bigger challenge...
Get your kids involved now so that they grow up with this being an integral part of their life.

At the Inner City Church of Christ they have these little cardboard church buses to put change in. We have Lawson put change in there every time he finds a coin. When he does find it he comes to Stacy or I and says "Bus, Bus!"

Some of my fondest memories are of my dad carrying me down to church with him on Saturdays to get a mower to go mow and elderly woman's yard or to take a piece of furniture to someones house who had none. I am trying to create the same memories for my children.

What memories are you going to create? Will you create one like that of the rich young ruler who kept all the commands but couldn't help the poor or one of the Rich Fool who hoarded his goods for himself? Or will you create one like Paul and Barnabas and when you pass on you will be remembered as one who, as he/she went about their ministry, never forgot to help the poor?

You only get one legacy to leave behind? Seems like a pretty easy choice.

Teach the children...

2006-12-20T07:42:00.000-08:00

Lawson's birthday party was this past Saturday. After an hour or so of playing and eating lunch we had him open his presents. Watching him open the first gift and then want to play with it only and show no interest in the other gifts it got me to thinking.

Do we teach our children to be greedy?

Seriously think about it. Lawson opened one gift and was completely content to play with that one toy and had no interest in the other presents. I had to take away that toy and make him open another.

Do we teach our children to want more and more? Is this something we should be doing?

Help yourself!

2006-12-19T07:06:00.000-08:00

Why do we, American's as a whole, want to give money, time, effort to help the down trodden, less fortunate, homeless, and sick of countries outside of our borders?

Take Bono's red campaign. Great, noble, worthy cause, but why can the situation in Africa spur so much response while we have problems on the same scale here in America?

Yes there are people in Africa who have the AIDS virus because some man raped a woman and gave her and her baby AIDS. Unfortunate? Yes. Horrible? AB solutley!!! Should we extend a helping hand to people there? I think there are some serious consequences if we don't. Look at Jesus' words about helping those less fortunate.

The King will reply, 'I tell you the truth, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did for me.'
Then he will say to those on his left, 'Depart from me, you who are cursed, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels.
For I was hungry and you gave me nothing to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me nothing to drink, I was a stranger and you did not invite me in, I needed clothes and you did not clothe me, I was sick and in prison and you did not look after me.'

What about the family that lives in Butler Terrace or (insert the name of a housing project that you drive by everyday but fail to take notice of )?

There is a man that I met last night at the Inner City building. His name is Chester. Chester is in his 40's, he is black, he is homeless, and he is a slave to drugs. What is your gut reaction that you would have if you encounter this person on a street corner? He is like the guy that it is standing on a corner of a busy intersection with a cardboard sign that is asking for food, money, clothing, etc... I know what my reaction was a few years ago. "You lazy, no good bum. What is wrong with you. Go down to the downtown mission get some food, some job training, and stop loitering on this street corner." Is this reaction that far off from most people's? Maybe. Maybe not. Only you can answer that question.

How about this scenario. Chester...same characteristics but with one important one that trumps all of our misgivings about him. He is created in the image of God. Let that sink in for one minute.

Those people sitting on street corners or walking down the street with ratty clothes on are made in the image of God. The same image in which you are made. And one more characteristic. God loves them. Now I am not just saying that to be like the person who walks by and says that so that they can feel better, but God really does love him. He is included amongst all of us when Peter pens these words ...

The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. He is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance.

Yes, those in Africa, Baja, Honduras, etc are all included in these words. They are included in Jesus' words in Matthew 25. But why do we run to help those and not our own countrymen.

Personally I think it is because of the benefits, lifestyles, etc. that America affords. Look at the movie coming out "Pursuit of Happiness". It is about a man who had $21 to his name yet took an internship for nothing and slept in bathroom stalls with his toddler son and made himself into a millionaire. Do we overlook the 'Chester's' of America and look to the AIDS victim, poverty victim in other countries because 'Chester' should get off his butt and go "Help himself" because America has this opportunity for him.

Do we feel that our money is better spent overseas rather than on those in our own societies that have fallen victim to their own vices? Are we actually discriminating against our own countrymen because we feel that they have gotten themselves into this position and should get themselves out of it? Ever heard of a 'hand-out'? Was there ever a time in your life when you were down on your luck and someone helped you out? Helped you get back on your feet?

Can we give our money overseas and over look those in our own society and still feel like Jesus can say to us...

"'Come, you who are blessed by my Father; take your inheritance, the kingdom prepared for you since the creation of the world. For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in, I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison and you came to visit me"

Is this a 'Picadilly' request? Can we just pick a chose who is worthy of our help?

Random Questions/Suggestions

2006-12-18T07:11:00.000-08:00

Just let me throw this out there:

1 - To whomever perforates the baby wipes,

Here is an idea. Really it is quite ingenious. Either perforate the wipes all the way so that they tear like you would expect something to tear when it is perforated, or don't do it at all and let me tear it myself. Seriously, this is really annoying when you have one wipe laid out and once you examine the situation you realize it is a 2 wiper and you go to 'yank' the second wipe out and it either rips or drags out three others with it.

P.S. Pass this along to the the person who is supposed to perforate the paper towels also...don't forget the TP person either.

2 - What exactly is a football move?

Last night in the Chiefs debacle against the Chargers, Lorenzo Neal caught a pass in the flat, turned his body and was hit and fumbled. But evidently since no one in the NFL is man enough to take a hit and hold on to the ball they have implemented a rule that you have to make a "football move" before it can be ruled a catch and a fumble. What, prae tell, is a football move? Can someone please explain this to me?

3 - Wal-Mart

Another novel idea! Wait, listen closely you don't want to miss this little jewel. In fact I'll spell it out for you.

H-I-R-E M-O-R-E C-A-S-H-I-E-R-S

C-a-n Y-o-u U-n-d-e-r-s-t-a-n-d t-h-a-t!!!

4 - Post Office

A new word to introduce to your employees vernacular.

PACE: as in pick it up

HAPPY BIRTHDAY BIG GUY!!!

2006-12-14T11:31:00.000-08:00

Lawson,

Son, tonight at 8:51 pm you were brought into this world and my life changed forever. I remember the moment as if it happened 5 minutes ago. I can remember where all the nurses where standing, the smells, the sounds, the lights, and the melting pot of emotions that were welling up inside of me.

The second that Dr. Lopez pulled you out I lost it. For the first time in my life I actually felt what it was like to weep. Weep for joy. Weep for fear that I would be inadequate to show you how to be a man of God. Weep for the unknown of what the future held. Weep for complete relief that God had been with you from the time you were conceived and is still with you this very moment. I would not weep like that again until your sister was born 20 months later.

You are the joy of my life. Every morning you awake to a world full of wonder and amazement and I try my hardest to keep your world one of safety and comfort. The day will come when you will leave and Lord willing be united with your Christian wife. That day is little more than 20 years away most likely yet it will seem like a split second when it happens. My prayer is that I can always beseech the Father for wisdom and guidance as I try to be an example to you of what a man of God looks like. I know that I will fail somewhere along the way and I pray that I am man enough to pick myself up and try again. I am more thankful than you will ever know that we are surrounded with such close Godly examples of what a man should be like. There is your Papa who became a Christian when he was my age and has never ceased seeking to be like his maker every day. There are my friends Kenny, Uncle Kenny to you, and Jason who are each walking their own path with the Father and will continue to be influences on my life and yours for years to come.

I love you with all my heart, mind, body, and soul.

Happy Birthday Buddy!!!

Your Dad,

Jon

Some things to think about...

2006-12-14T07:14:00.000-08:00

Your alarm goes off, you hit the snooze and sleep for another 10 minutes.
He stays up for days on end.
__________________________
You take a warm shower to help you wake up.
He goes days or weeks without running water.
__________________________
You complain of a "headache", and call in sick.
He gets shot at, as others are hit, and keeps moving forward.
__________________________
You put on your anti war/don't support the troops shirt, and go meet up with your friends.
He still fights for your right to wear that shirt.
__________________________
You make sure you're cell phone is in your pocket.
He clutches the cross hanging on his chain next to his dog tags.
__________________________
You talk trash on your "buddies" that aren't with you.
He knows he may not see some of his buddies again.
__________________________
You don't feel like helping out your dad today, so you don't.
He does what he is told.
__________________________
You walk down the beach, staring at all the pretty girls.
He walks the streets, searching for insurgents and terrorists.
__________________________
You complain about how hot it is.
He wears his heavy gear, not daring to take off his helmet to wipe his brow.
__________________________
You go out to lunch, and complain because the restaurant got your order wrong.
He does not get to eat today.
__________________________
Your maid makes your bed and washes your clothes.
He wears the same things for months, but makes sure his weapons are clean.
__________________________
You go to the mall and get your hair redone.
He doesn't have time to brush his teeth today.
__________________________
You are angry because your class ran 5 minutes over.
He is told he will be held an extra 2 months.
He does as he is told.
__________________________
You call your girlfriend and set a date for that night.
He waits for the mail to see if there is a letter from home.
__________________________
You hug and kiss your girlfriend, like you do everyday.
He holds his letter close and smells his Love's perfume.
__________________________
You ditch class to go to a movie.
He goes where he is told.
__________________________
You roll your eyes as a baby cries.
He gets a letter with pictures of his new child, and wonders if they'll ever meet.
__________________________
You criticize your government, and say that war never solves anything.
He sees the innocent tortured and killed by their own government and remembers why he is fighting.
__________________________
You hear the jokes about the war, and make fun of the men like him.
He hears the gun fire and bombs.
__________________________
You see only what the media wants you to see.
He sees the bodies lying around him.
__________________________
You are asked to go to the store by your parents. You don't.
He does what he is told.
__________________________
You stay at home and watch TV.
He takes whatever time he is given to call and write home, sleep, and eat.
__________________________
You crawl into your bed, with down pillows, and try to get comfortable.
He crawls under a tank for shade and a 5 minute nap, only to be woken by gun fire.
__________________________
You sit there and judge him, saying the world is a worse place because of men like him.
If only there were more men like him.

"The only way for evil to triumph, is if good men do nothing."-Edmund Burke

Micah's Last Blog Entry

2006-12-13T13:12:00.000-08:00

Thought this was interesting with all the talk about nonviolence to see how a Christian in the military in Iraq felt about those they were fighting.

Hello Friends and visitors of my awesome webpage. You may be wondering, "How did this guy get so sexy?". There is no answer for that. But if you weren't wondering that and you WERE wondering why doesn't this jerkfaced jerk ever write me back? Well, for starters, I suck. Then add in the fact that I am overseas about to be a part of this fight we're in and you can hopefully understand that responses will be few and far between. In case you are worried about my well being...don't. I am proud to be a part of this fight. I signed up to do this for a reason and I hope that everyone understands why this fight continues to be important to every one of us...not just the Iraqi people. Don't pray that I come home soon. Pray that the people that are causing us to stay out there can see the light and change their ways without harm coming to them first. Which, I don't know if you ever got tickets to the "gun show" or not, but if anybody steps to this all I gotta do is flex and their brains will explode out of sheer amazement, so again...don't worry bout me! However, feel free to write if you want cuz obviously I still get to use the internet (somewhat) and letters are always coo. Peace in the Middle East (heh-heh). Micah G.

Good Bye

2006-12-12T06:27:00.000-08:00

I didn't know him personally but I had several business classes with him while at Harding. I remember my dad talking about knowing kids in school who's brother had been killed in Vietnam or knowing guys who had gotten drafted and were killed. I kind of always wondered what that was like.

Well it is weird. Sad.

Here is a poem from a fellow soldier.

A Poem for Micah from SSG Brian Embry
Man I hate I have to write this, but I know it must be done
If only I was feeling something more than being stunned
Your days were a blessing as you always shined a light
And even though I can’t see that now, I feel it deep inside
Even as I write, I can sense you all around me
The unit lost a soldier but we soldiers lost some family
And sadly, as it is, I never got to say goodbye
But how can you be gone when you were so full of life
How can you be gone, I wish it wasn’t like this
I hear you saying "Because god wanted me to rock with!!"
You always made us laugh and I never heard you curse
And in the modern army now, that’s pretty much a first
It’s absurd in a way, and we use to always laugh
When you replaced those words with verbs that didn’t match
Looking back, we use to say how giff was a goof
But you stood up for what you believed in regardless if it was cool
You never cared to be the same, you were just Giff
And just one of the best soldiers I’ve came in contact with
I never saw you drink, but you always came around
And made sure that us drinkers didn’t drive up through the town
Your parents should be proud, and they should hear this a lot......
MR AND MRS GIFFORD YOUR SON TOTALLY ROCKED!!!!!!!!!!!
I have so many memories, every one makes me smile
And it’s funny how it hurts even when I’m in denial
But in a while, someday... I really don’t know when
I want you to be there, at the gates, on the day they let me in
As a friend, as a brother, as a soldier of the lord
My condolences for your family of whom you mean a lot more
And even though we miss you, we know your still around
Please ask god to guide us remaining soldiers on the ground
We miss you.

Micah's MySpace

Mission Minded?

2006-12-11T14:20:00.000-08:00

A couple of months ago in LifeGroup the following question was posed...

What if Paul was writing a letter to the Church of Christ at Mayfair? What would he say? Would he praise us for our commitment to furthering the gospel in third world countries?
Would he praise us for our commitment to placing a huge emphasis on the education of our children?

Most likely he would. Mayfair is one the best churches that I have been blessed to be apart of. Stacy and I love Mayfair because of the commitment that she does have to the education of our children. We love the service in the auditorium but have come to consider our class home. Neither of our families live close by. In fact both sets live over 12 hours away. Thus, we have come to consider those in our class our close friends as well as family. But let me get on with the intent of this post.

What would Paul say about our commitment to the needs of Huntsville? How well would we be "graded" for our commitment to furthering the gospel in the "Butler Terrace's" of Huntsville? I don't know why and maybe never will but I feel led by God to help and call attention to the needs of the Inner City Church as well as the Inner City Learning Center. I have worshipped with the brothers and sisters there only once but I felt the genuineness of the worship there. These people aren't caught up in the "politics" that seem to plague the church today. These people maybe wearing the same clothes that they wore the Sunday before or even the day before. Do they care? I'm sure they do but it doesn't weigh on their mind when they come to worship. If you want a brief glimpse of the another's perspective on what it is like to worship here see what Jason had to say about his experience this past Sunday.

Art Leslie has said the the President of Alabama A&M University has placed membership here and is going to start worshiping here as well. Tom Gates from Mayfair leaves Mayfair after communion to go the Inner City to worship with them and teach the adults how to flourish in their new found faith.

2 just 2 out of 1,600+ make the sacrifice to go the Inner City to be a light and encouragement to the brothers there.

How much could that church flourish and grow if we had people from Mayfair, maybe even the Homebuilder's Class commit to just one year of membership there to help the church grow. The church was started several years ago with the efforts of Lee Milam and some teenagers wanting to reach out to those in the Inner City. This has been and will continue to be a blessing to those served by the church there, but how much more of blessing could it be if it was aided by those who were more "advanced" (if there is such a thing) in their spiritual walk?

Has the church been neglected since it was started? No, not really, maybe a little. Perhaps it was started and people did help for awhile so that they could feel good. They could check off their good deed for those unfortunate souls in the inner city. Possibly they are scared it is some "Holy Roller" - "Thank You Jesus" - "People passing out on the stage" church but it is far far far from it.

Maybe people are scared to come down there. Scared of what, getting shot. You think someone is just waiting to shoot the first 'cracker' that shows his/her face down there. Please. Don't think your so important. I wouldn't be stupid and walk around there at night by myself but during the day and early evening there is nothing to be quite so apprehensive about.

Maybe people think that they are too good for the Inner City. I have heard this many times..."Don't worry it's just the Inner City." "You want to give that! Oh, that's just too nice for the Inner City." If you have this attitude you need to read James chapter 2.

My brothers, as believers in our glorious Lord Jesus Christ, don't show favoritism. Suppose a man comes into your meeting wearing a gold ring and fine clothes, and a poor man in shabby clothes also comes in. If you show special attention to the man wearing fine clothes and say, "Here's a good seat for you," but say to the poor man, "You stand there" or "Sit on the floor by my feet," have you not discriminated among yourselves and become judges with evil thoughts?

Just stop and think for one second. Seriously consider the question.

What is one year?
How much would you really have to sacrifice to help the Lord's church grow?
How much more would you end up being blessed by being apart of this congregation for just 1 year?

What did you get for Christmas last year?

2006-12-08T05:45:00.000-08:00

Truth is I really can't recall exactly. I got the staples of a pack of underwear, socks, t-shirts. I got several dress shirts and ties. We also got some money. I also got to go to sleep in my own home in my own bed with the heater running so that my family and I could sleep comfortably.

What about you what did you get for Christmas last year?

This year our class, the Homebuilders, will adopt a family from the Inner City, specifically from Butler Terrace off of Govenors Drive, and give them a Christmas. A Christmas that they didn't have last year. Not one present was given to these boys.

Last year Christmas was just another day for these boys. Can you imagine that. Christmas just like the other 360 some odd days of the year. Nothing to lie in bed awake with anticipation for in the morning. Remember when you were a kid on Christmas Eve? I do. Most of the time I could hardly sleep. That night seemed like the longest night in the world. I just layed in bed till I passed out from exhaustion only to wake up and have to wait the in bedroom for mom and dad to decide to get out of bed. Can you imagine not doing that? Imagine just going to bed not with anticipation of the next day but with discouragment that there is nothing to look forward to the next day.

That is what the Sherrod's did last year. Our class is trying to make that not happen this year. I went and spoke with the mother, Lisa, last night. That was a surreal experience. I have seen projects from the outside and seen them in the movies but I guess I just never really realized what these people eek out a living in. I just couldn't imagine trying to raise my family in those conditions. If I try to describe it you just wouldn't believe me so this afternoon I am going by their apartment and will video tape and take pictures of the inside of their home and show this footage in class on Sunday.

What's the difference?

2006-12-04T06:29:00.000-08:00

Omgah!
Oh my gosh!
Dad Gomn It!
Ga Dang It!
Son of a!

Why not just say the real thing. Is it really not that bad if we just flip flop the syllables in words or if we slur some of the words so that it doesn't seem like we said the 'real deal'?

Would this make me a bigot?

2006-11-22T07:44:00.000-08:00

In Minneapolis 6 Muslims prayed in the terminal right before boarding a plane and then once they boarded they fanned out all over the plane. The flight crew and passengers expressed concern over flying with these people on the plane, so all 6 were taken off the plane and now C.A.I.R. (Council on America-Islamic Relations) has their turban tied in a knot over this. The spokesmuslim for CAIR even said he wished America were under Islamic rule. Hmmm.

I mean, I would have felt the same way if I saw some Muslims praying before boarding the plane. Maybe you are praying to your god to give you success in blowing this plane up or success in taking it over and crashing it into some other building, maybe in Chicago?

Are all Muslims terrorists? Not at all but... All the terrorists in the past 6 years have been Muslim. A bigoted response? I think not.

Monday time for...

2006-11-20T06:59:00.000-08:00

Weigh in and answers.

Answers to Friday's Useless Facts:

The longest words that can be typed using only your:

Left Hand - stewardesses

Right Hand - lollipop

Okay smarty pants!!!

2006-11-17T09:16:00.000-08:00

What are the longest words that can be typed by using only your left hand and by using only your right hand? THERE!!!

Fun Fact Friday !!!

2006-11-17T08:30:00.000-08:00

Do you notice the reflectors on the roads by the yellow lines? Most of the reflectors are white or yellow, but every now and then there is a blue one? Do you know why it is blue? Take a guess and I'll let you know on Monday.

I thought I had...

2006-11-16T07:09:00.000-08:00

at least a few more years, like 10, before I would have the "Talk" with Lawson. I thought. But last night in the youth group class they have started a series on "Temptation". We broke up guys and girls and talked a little more about temptation on personal levels. Then we split up into huddles and had a list of questions to go over.

The first question was "What are some temptations that you face today?" (there were 7 more questions but we never made it past this one).

The number one temptation these 11th grade guys talked about was ...

Porn.

What? Porn?

One of the guys said they guessed it would get easier to deal with when you got older. Man if it only worked that way. If marriage was the "magic pill" and you never found it tempting to look at any other woman than your wife. If only... So then we began to talk about serious subjects. These 11th grade kids talked more about sexual temptations than the adults did in the Wednesday night class that Phillip Allen and I taught last quarter.

We covered quite a bit. How far is too far? Is it wrong to talk about what you did? Can you do certain things and still be a virgin?

I figured the kids were talking about looking at porn at home on the internet or if someone slipped in a magazine to class, which some were, but mainly they mentioned that kids were downloading porn to their cell phones and looking at it during class.

Our society is going on a downward spiral out of control. It amazes me or rather it shouldn't (with the corrupt leaders we have) how easily accessible porn is. On your cell phone? Talk about impersonal. I mean when I was growing up you at least had to have the gonads to walk into a store and swipe the magazine. Now one can just get it sent to their cell phones?! Do we really need cell phones? I mean I am so thankful now that someone can get ahold of me, what in the world would they have done if they couldn't talk to me right then. Oh wait that's right they could have waited till I got HOME and checked my ANSWERING MACHINE. Okay back on topic.

I think this is something that should be brought up infront of the new lifegroup for parents of teens. Do they know? Do they care? Or does their son having the latest cell phone matter more than their sexual purity? They only thing I think that really sunk in the with guys is that Lord willing one day they will meet a great Christian woman who has abstained from sexual temptation and has kept herself pure for her husband and the hurt that they will feel when they have to tell her that. "I couldn't see past the next hour so I gave in and got a ... or had sex ... or (insert some sexual fulfilment that you tainted yourself with)." "I know that you denied yourself these pleasures but I just couldn't so I am offering you a blemished sexual life and want you to give me your unblemished sexual life". Rough.

More random thoughts...

2006-11-15T14:08:00.000-08:00

Okay so best guestimates state that approx. 30% - 35% of Americans turn out to vote. Now we have been around for about 230 years. This is our 109th elected congress. Voting has become an overlooked privilege. But that is whole nother rant all together. Let's contrast this with Iraq. For the first time ever people there are allowed to vote for their leaders. Take a guess at the percentage of people who voted...(insert Jeopardy music)...

70% - SEVENTY - SEVEN ZERO

What is the difference? This is something that these people have wanted, never had the chance to, and now have the ability to. They flooded the polls to express their view points.

Okay now here is the randomness...

How excited are some people when the become Christians for the first time after having lived a life devoid of hope and peace? Some of the most 'on fire' people are those who have longed for a peace and hope and at last someone showed them how Christ can bring that to their lives.

Is it me or do those who have been going to church their whole lives, all through school, because your parents dragged you, then on through college because somewhere deep inside you knew it was right, and then now as an adult because somewhere between being dragged to church and now have most likely found your own faith, seem to discount their faith a little. Maybe it has become 'old hat' to us. Just another thing to check of the list..."Yep, went Sunday morning, night and Wednesday night. Done for this week." "Been doing this for x number of years."...

Why does it seem that those people who have lived a 'rough' or 'secular' or '(insert a descriptive word)' life value this new found hope more. Is it different for them? Does it have some other meaning that we are missing? Or do they just realize exactly what it was they were looking for and now that they have it they can't wait to tell someone else.

And one more thing since I am espousing my thoughts on 'spiritual' subjects...Why do we not hesitate to spend $550 - $1,200 to fly to the BAJA or Belize (both excellent works and causes) but we can't clear our schedule to go spend $2.13 for a gallon of gas to go serve in the inner city? Fear that we might see these people again after we are done serving them, or that someone we know might see us serving?

Okay one more then I'll stop...How hard is it to TURN OFF YOUR STUPID CELL PHONE IN CHURCH!!!!! Do those people who call you not know that you are in church between 9 and 11:15 every Sunday? Are you living that poor of an example to those around you?

And I'm spent...

My first official heart attack!!!

2006-11-13T06:54:00.000-08:00

Stacy and I are looking for a new house to buy, hopefully within the next month or so. We have found two that we really really really like (Stacy says love for one and like for the other) I feel the same way but our houses that we love are not the same ones. But my dad told me before we got married not to put up a fuss about the house too much because she is the one who has to be home all day with the kiddos and will make it the way she wants so she feels comfortable raising the kids there and spending the majority of her time there. So we are hopefully going to make an offer on the the one she loves. Anyways the house we are going for is a two story (now don't get ahead of me here)...

It is Sunday afternoon and we are looking at the house with our Realtor Diane Hasley of Keller Williams (who sold our house in 1 day I might add) Well we are up stairs, I have Jordan and think the Stacy is watching Lawson and Stacy thinks that I am watching Lawson. I went into one bedroom and Stacy another and then THUD BANG THUD BANG THUD BAND THUD BANG THUD. The only thing I remember is putting Jordan down upstairs and then picking Lawson up at the bottom of the stairs. I think I touched one step on the way down. Lawson was laying at the bottom looking up when I got to him he started to cry and I scooped him up and took him to the car (mostly so I could gather myself) to check him out and get him his pacifier. I took me about an hour to calm down, it took Lawson about 2 seconds after he got his pacifier. Just glad I didn't see him fall down the stairs. Good think kids are made out of God rubber...

Church money and the poor

2006-11-03T08:03:00.000-08:00

Here is a post from Larry James on giving and the use of the funds. Interesting stuff if you really think about it.

Frequently at this site, readers lecture me about how the church, rather than the government, should care for the poor. I know we will continue to debate this point in the future.

Not long ago a friend sent me a link to an extremely interesting article by Ray Mayhew ("Embezzlement: The Corporate sin of Contemporary Christianity?"). I found Mayhew's ideas compelling. What follows are a few quotes for your consideration.

_____________________________

While reading some patristic documents recently, I was startled to discover that the Church Fathers are univocal in their insistence that the bulk of the revenue collected by a local church belonged by right to the poor. There was no expectation among them that a large percentage of what was collected by a local congregation would be used for its own maintenance and ministry. In fact, to do so would have been viewed by them as a misappropriation of funds. . . .. . .the assumption of most church leaders today is that we have the right to spend our revenue in ways that we believe would be most beneficial to the work for which we are responsible. Budgets are drawn up, employees paid, buildings built and maintained, and missionaries supported. This is the way things are done, and as long as there is an annual audit and no misappropriations of funds, all is well. But is it?

All of the above is built on two assumptions that are rarely, if ever questioned. The first is that revenue collected is "ours," belonging by right to the congregation that gave it and who now, therefore, has the right to spend it. The fact that some churches tithe their income and give away ten percent to other ministries only reflects how deeply we believe it is "ours" to use in the first place. The second assumption is that how this money is spent is a pragmatic decision that varies from congregation to congregation (and culture to culture), depending on the perceived needs and objectives of each local church. I believe that both of these assumptions need to be reexamined in light of scripture and church history. . . .

. . .The record is unambiguous, church revenue, prior to Constantine, was used, both locally and in other parts of the Empire, primarily for the welfare of the sick, the poor, the imprisoned, the widow and the orphan. The local congregation did not expect a large percentage of what was given to be used for its own maintenance and ministry. In fact, to do so would have been viewed by most of them as a misappropriation of funds.In the second century, Tertullian provided us with details of the church services in North Africa. He spoke of every man bringing money. . . "You might call them the trust funds of piety. They are spent on the support and burial of the poor."

Justin Martyr provides us with similar insight from the second century practice of the Roman church. Speaking of the Sunday service he says, "the money thus collected is deposited with the president who takes care of the orphans and widows and those who are in straits because of sickness or any other cause and those in prison, and visitors form other parts. In short, he looks after all who are in need.". . .Giving in this way was not seen as generosity, it was viewed as an act of restitution. It belonged to the poor by right. Augustine instructed his own church to set aside at least a tenth of all their possessions and income for the poor (not the church). This was actually a concession to what he saw as greed because his congregation was not prepared to give up everything that was "superfluous"!. . .

We should also not miss the obvious: when the Old Testament tithe was given, it was given away to others. It was given to the Levites, a tribe to which those doing the giving did not belong. In contrast, when I give to the church, it is not "given away" at all. I am the church! Revenue given to the church directly benefits me as a believer in providing pastoral care, Bible teaching, family counseling, facilities for my children and a building for me to worship in. In that sense, very little is given away. Most of the money I give to the church is spent by the church on meeting my needs and those of my family. For this I am very grateful. However, I am also suspicious as to whether I am a valid recipient of such expenditure..

. .Today, if we are going to teach the tithe as a benchmark of faithful stewardship, we need to also teach how the early church used these trust funds in ministering to the needy.. . .In the late fourth century, John Chrysostom echoed Matthew 25 in lamenting, "thou hast been bidden to give freely to the hungry. . .but thou dost not count him deserving even of a loaf; but thy dog is fed to fullness while Christ wastes with hunger.". . .Cyprian maintained that prayer and fasting was of no avail unless accompanied by giving to the poor, while Origen ranked almsgiving third in importance behind baptism and martyrdom. However, their definition of almsgiving went far beyond giving their loose change to the hungry and homeless. It was defined as spending on oneself only that which was absolutely necessary and giving the remainder away. Nothing superfluous should be kept as long as others lacked the necessities of life.. . .Ignatius characterized heretics as those who had "no care for the widow, the orphan, the oppressed, the hungry or the thirsty."

Lots to think about here for church people, huh?Read the essay in its entirety at: http://www.relationaltithe.com/EmbezzlementPaper.PDF?PHPSESSID=a51c2cdedd075fbce8b57263389f9007.

Voting on Tuesday

2006-11-03T05:48:00.000-08:00

In the 1800's there was not a specific 'voting' day. So in 1845 a Federal law was passed that deemed Tuesday 'voting' day.

Sunday was a day of rest. It took one day to travel and Friday and Saturday were farming days so by default Tuesday was the day. Travel on Monday, vote on Tuesday, return on Wednesday and the have Thursday to get ready to harvest on Friday and Saturday.

There is no 'voting' day established by the Constitution only a federal law passed in 1845 makes Tuesday a 'voting' day.

So Jamey was correct.

Useless? Information

2006-11-02T06:52:00.000-08:00

Why do we vote on Tuesday and not some other day of the week?

Anyone know?

Take a guess and tomorrow I will post the correct answer.

Monday, Monday...

2006-10-30T08:05:00.000-08:00

Today is Monday.

Time for weigh in!?

And so it begins...

2006-10-27T07:22:00.000-07:00

A client has just brought us FRESH, HOT Krispy Kreme Donuts. UGH!!!!

Well only 2 hours 45 minutes until I am off work and can not smell them anymore.

Does anyone have a pair of unused noes plugs?

Slim Jon...?

2006-10-26T07:23:00.000-07:00

So to put myself out there for ridicule I have borrowed/stolen and idea from Lane Widick, Fat Man, and started my own blog to document my attempt at changing my lifestyle and losing 80 lbs.

So check it out and leave any type of comment, encouraging or sarcastic, and check in on Monday's to see what the new weight is. BIG Daddy

State of Mind

2006-10-19T06:38:00.000-07:00

The problem is not that I have made a decision to quit viewing sexual images that cause me to lust but that I have too many in my mind already. Because I was once naive and allowed myself to view anything my eyes desired I now have a huge battle before me to banish these thoughts and images out of my mind, but how does one go about getting rid of images that are already in ones head?

The only analogy that I can equate it to is this...If a sewer main breaks and spills sewage into the drinking water and the utility company fixes the source of the leak it will take a while for the sewage to run out of the system...so it is with our minds, but can we speed up this process? I believe so, through prayer and replacing the garbage with good things...Read Phil 4:8

"Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things"

If your minds thoughts could be broadcast on a TV screen that followed you around how would you act?

Everything else dealing with sexual purity is of a 'physical' nature. We watch movies, TV shows - Deal or No Deal & Dancing with the Stars were shows I left off of the list of shows to watch that have bimbo's on it-, magazines, etc. There are the scantily clad women during the summer, or the co-worker who wears clothes a little to snuggly or revealing. But what about the mind? No one but you knows what goes on in there. I mean no one but you and God know what goes on inside your mind.

"Don't worry", you say " I can handle it." I am mature enough to be able to see these images and not take them any farther. That maybe true, and if it is, I applaude you for having conquered your sexual desires. This is what we are striving for; to be able to do as 2 Cor 10:5 says...

"We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ. "

But until we reach that precipice why do we continue to watch such things and voluntarily let them into our homes?

If we are supposedly "mature" then why do these images, the ones that we are "mature enough to handle" pop into our minds during the Lord's Supper, while we are driving down the road, or even, it could happen, while you are being intimate with your spouse?

We need to setup a defense mechanism in our minds. A "corral" so to speak. In this corral the only female that has 100% right to be there is your wife. Any other women that enter your mind must be banned from entering your corral, likewise any other women that are already in your 'corral', i.e. past girlfriends, co-workers, etc. need to be kicked out and placed far far away from it. Unfortunately there will some women that hang out around your 'corral'. These women will be your friends wives.

How do you handle those situations? Tell me some of your guidelines for interaction with your friends wives.

As far as old girlfriends go, is it harmful to 'wonder' about what life might have been like with that person?

As far as female co-workers go, is it wrong to avoid any and all friendships with them?

47 things you always wanted to know...

2006-10-16T09:55:00.000-07:00

1. FIRST NAME? Jonathan
2. WERE YOU NAMED AFTER ANYONE? nope, parents just liked the name
3. WHEN DID YOU LAST CRY? October 2, 2006
4. DO YOU LIKE YOUR HANDWRITING? yes, until I try and read it later.
5. WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE LUNCHMEAT? hickory smoked ham
6. KIDS? Lawson, 22 months old, Jordan 2 months old
7. IF YOU WERE ANOTHER PERSON WOULD YOU BE FRIENDS WITH YOU? of course
8. DO YOU HAVE A JOURNAL? yes, personal one at home and this blog.
9. DO YOU USE SARCASM A LOT? Do you use to much if your wife has to ask you if you are being sarcastic or not?
10. DO YOU STILL HAVE YOUR TONSILS? yes
11. WOULD YOU BUNGEE JUMP? Yes, head first so I wouldn't feel anything
12. WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE CEREAL? Cap'n Crunch
13. DO YOU UNTIE YOUR SHOES WHEN YOU TAKE THEM OFF? yes
14. DO YOU THINK YOU ARE STRONG? yes
15. WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE ICE CREAM ? County Fair Winner from Kaliedoscopes
16. SHOE SIZE? 13
17. RED OR PINK? red
18. WHAT IS THE LEAST FAVORITE THING ABOUT YOURSELF? my weight
19. WHO DO YOU MISS THE MOST? my family, friends in Montgomery
20. DO YOU WANT EVERYONE TO SEND THIS BACK TO YOU? it would be fun
21. WHAT COLOR PANTS AND SHOES ARE YOU WEARING? black suit pants dark burgundy shoes
22. LAST THING YOU ATE? Honeynut Cheerios
23. WHAT ARE YOU LISTENING TO RIGHT NOW? The A/C blowing in my office
24. IF YOU WERE A CRAYON, WHAT COLOR WOULD YOU BE? blue
25. FAVORITE SMELL? Jordan/Lawson after baths/Stacy's hair
26. LAST PERSON YOU TALKED TO ON THE PHONE? a client
27. THE FIRST THING YOU NOTICE ABOUT PEOPLE YOU ARE ATTRACTED TO: teeth
28. FAVORITE DRINK? half cran-apple juice/half ginger ale
29. FAVORITE SPORT? football
30. EYE COLOR? hazel
31. HAT SIZE? big enough that one size doesn't fit all, 7 7/8 or 8 depends on if my hair is cut
32. DO YOU WEAR CONTACTS? no
33. FAVORITE FOOD? sausage balls, chili, rotel dip, steak, gizzards
34. HAPPY OR SAD ENDING? happy
35. LAST MOVIE YOU WATCHED AT THE MOVIES? World Trade Center
36. WHAT COLOR SHIRT ARE YOU WEARING? lavender, Stacy picked it out
37. SUMMER OR WINTER? Winter
38. HUGS OR KISSES? depends on who
39. FAVORITE DESSERT? oh, tough one, brownies, pineapple upside down cake, Sunny's choclate pie, peach cobbler, Chili's molten lava cake
40. WHAT BOOKS ARE YOU READING? Case for Christ, Financial Accouting and Reporting CPA Exam Review
41. WHAT'S ON YOUR MOUSE PAD? Harding University
42. WHAT DID YOU WATCH ON TV LAST NIGHT? Baseball, Amazing Race
43. FAVORITE SOUND? Lawson laughing, Jordan cooing
44. ROLLING STONES OR BEATLES? beatles
45. THE FURTHEST YOU'VE BEEN FROM HOME? Olympia, WA
46. WHAT'S YOUR SPECIAL TALENT? I can fix just about anything
47. WHEN AND WHERE WERE YOU BORN? February 22, 1979 Kansas City, MO

Huntsville Inner City Learning Center

2006-10-05T06:30:00.000-07:00

65%

Any guess what that 65% means?

That is the number of kids that drop out of high school in Huntsville, Alabama. That's right Huntsville, the highest earning per capita city in Alabama has a higher drop out rate that that of Dallas, Texas (58%).

25%

Wanna take a shot at was this represents?

The principal of Stone Middle School (Old Butler High) followed a class of her students all the way through graduation. 25% is the amount of kids that graduated high school.

0%

The number of the above class that graduated from Huntsville High School.

Nothing.

What has been done about it to this point.

I am neither from here nor do I pretend to be but it is pretty clear that these statistics are swept under the rug. Ignored. If we ignore it then it doesn't exist right? Right. WRONG.

6 out of 10

The ratio of black males in Huntsville who, within 3 years of their class graduating, will have been involved in the judicial system.

3 out of 5

The ratio of black males who, after dropping out of high school, will have fathered 2 children.

Ever wonder why you have to pay so much for car insurance in good ole' Huntsville? What about your home owners insurance? Little pricey? Well, it isn't because Huntsville is such a nice town; it’s because of the above statistics.

We had a meeting at that Inner City Church building about a month ago. After it was over I escorted several women to their car for fear that something would happen to them. These are grown women who have been down here, as far as I know, only once and they are nervous about walking around after dark. What about the kids that to live with this EVERY DAY? What about the mother who was bent over changing her baby's diaper when a drive-by shooting occurred and a bullet stuck in the wall where her head would have been had she not been bent over changing the diaper? Any we get mad that the trashman didn't come today? What can we/I/you/us do?

Once the street has a kid it is highly unlikely that you will get him back? Why should he/she want to come back? What can a 27 year old guy making under 50K a year, driving an $800 car, and has so many student loans that I could claim them as dependents say to a 16 year old kid who has more money in his/her pocket than I do in my bank account, nicer clothes than I have, and the latest cell phone. Not much...

What can I do for an 8th grader who can't read on a 4th grade reading level? I can teach him/her. I can give them hope for a future. I can show them that you can break this cycle. I can show them that you can have self-worth, self-confidence, high self-esteem. But I can't do it alone.

Art Leslie has named me head of advocacy for the Huntsville Inner City Learning Center. It is a Non-Profit organization that has been formed to take back the inner city from this debilitating cycle and give its residents hope and a future. All I can do is help one kid by myself, but I can tell everyone I know about it and have them help 1 kid and they tell someone else and they help 1 kid...get the picture?

We also need money. So I am going to write Oprah, Shaquille O’Neal, Denzel Washington, Dell, IBM, Wal-Mart, Sam’s Club, Scholastic Books, and anyone else I can think of to help us get this going. Honestly, do you really want your child to have the same or even less than what you have? The parents (most likely parent) don’t want that either but they need help in doing something about it. That's where we come in.

Mon thru Thursday, 3:30 to 6:30 , we will bus some 30 children from the 'inner city' schools into the Learning Center and help them with their general studies and have some one-on-one time to help with their reading skills.

The goal is to eventually expand into an organization that will not only contain the Learning Center but a health center, food pantry, and a job skills center. The idea for this came from Central Dallas Ministries.

I have discovered that I couldn't care less about what people think about me, mainly because I feel that for too long I resisted callings from God for fear about what people would think about me? Hebrews 13:6

So here it is? If you can, we need your help, yes we need volunteers to help teach the children, make dinner for the kids to eat while they are there, and clean up the Center to get ready for the next day, but most of all we need your money. It will be tax deductible and it will, I assure you, be put to good use.

If you want to donate to this cause or to find out more information you can send/write to the address below:

Huntsville Inner City Learning Center, Inc
c/o Art Leslie
309 Seminole Dr SW
Huntsville, AL 35805

Thank for taking time to read this and send it to as many people you know.

In Him,

Jon Stacy

Philippians 4:8

The Double Standard

2006-09-28T05:54:00.000-07:00

Stacy and I were at the mall the other night. We happened upon a decent looking man and woman who appeared to be a couple. We stopped and made small talk with them. Eventually the discussion turned serious and we decided to ask them to come over to our apartment later that night, but there was a catch. When they did come over she needed to wear some suggestive clothing, nothing to revealing but show just enough to keep a man interested, and he needed be dressed accordingly as well. Once they arrived we wanted her to just lie in the floor so we could look at her and then we wanted them to begin to make out in the living room floor while Stacy and I sat on the couch and watched them. If they felt like it they could even have sex while we watched.

This is such an absurd story and scenario that it most of us would never allow or think of doing such a thing. Can you imagine how much gusto you would have to work up to even ask a random couple to do such a thing?

Now tell me what the difference between the above scenario and say, Survivor, Grey's Anatamoy, Amazing Race, Friends, NYPD Blue, My Name is Earl, any number of movies, Redbook, Vogue, Maxim, Cosmo, Vanity Fair, etc...

Would you consider us to have a double standard when it comes to real life and television?

How about men? If we even think that our wives might be getting affection from another man it takes about 1/1000 of a millisecond to get enraged at even the thought, yet we get satisfaction sexually from 'just looking'. After all what does it hurt to look?

Would you consider this a double standard?

1 Corinthians 6:18-20 We don't even have the right to consider putting ourselves in these type situations. Now I am not saying that because you watch those shows you are sinning but why even take the risk of having those images in your mind? Ever been in church and had an image from a movie or TV show just 'pop-up' in say..during the Lord's Supper? But don't worry, I can handle these shows. The images of two people making out in a break room on Grey's Anatomy never pop up in my mind; images of women wearing 'tube tops' on a remote beach never pop up in my mind. I can watch shows with racy scenes and not ever have the sex drive in me get just a little excited?

How about for the women? Do you consider the fact that your husbands are driven visually? That even though you might like these shows, because you 'get to know the people', it could cause your husband to struggle in his sexual purity?

What would we do with out the TV shows and movies? Crap we might have to talk to each other or *gulp* read, AAAARRRGGGHHHH!!!!!

'Secular' View of Non-Violence

2006-09-25T09:17:00.000-07:00

This happened at Harding University this past Friday at an ASI lecture. Read this article and tell me what you would have done. Searcy Daily Citizen

Larry James

2006-09-22T06:46:00.000-07:00

Thought Larry James' post today was interesting since lately there has been some discussion about why it is easier to go to the Baja and help the impoverished there than it is to drive over to the church on Seminole street and get involved in the impoverished lives of people less than 5 miles from where we worship.

Change of Focus

2006-09-22T06:29:00.000-07:00

Should we really want the world leaders that preach the annihilation of America dead? I mean look at how some of the leaders have the ability to focus an entire nation for a single cause. Let me clarify the next statement: In NO way shape or form am I condoning the actions of these people. Look at the 'radical' Muslims. How focused are they. They are so intent on their goals that they are willing to die for them. Are we as committed to the call of the cross?

What if we, someone, could change their focus. Just their focus, not their tenacious desire to achieve a particluar goal?

Look at Paul. I can't help but think that some Christians wished something would happen to him so that they would not be persecuted anymore. Well something did. Did his ability to be completely focused on a cause change? No. Did his desire to see something come to fruition change? No. Did his ability to influence people to follow a cause change? No. So what changed.

His focus. God shifted his focus from persecution of the christian faith to the spreading of the same faith.

I can't help but think about things that we are passionate about that are in conflict with God's will. How much more good could be done in the kingdom if we merely changed our focus?

My Saturday

2006-09-20T14:02:00.000-07:00

Just to copycat off of Kenny's reality spoof.

Saturday morning: had workday at inner city church - got alot accomplished Good

Saturday midday : sliced arm open on metal shelves at inner city - Ouch

Saturday afternoon : went dove hunting and stuck 3/4" barded wire fence in my inner thigh - Ouch

Saturday afternoon : was taking aim on a dove and my left ankle burst into flames
- why you ask - I was standing on a fire ant mound - OUCH!!!!

Michigan beat ND - Good
OU got screwed(sorry Jamey) - Ouch
Florida beat TN - Good

Monday - went to doctor
- Got a tetanus shot - Ouch
- Some how got epididymitis - WAY OUCH ALL THE TIME!!!! (feels like getting kicked 'there' about 20 times a day.

Tuesday - got meds for epididymitis - WAY BETTER!!!

My Patriotism

2006-09-19T08:13:00.000-07:00

So after reading many others blogs about patriotism and Christianity I have decided to post my own thoughts about these matters. The oddity of it all is that this discussion has happend among Christians when every major war has happened. Civil War, Spanish-American, WW I, WW II, Korea, Vietnam, and today.

Disclaimer: You are encouraged to voice your side to this issue, however you must have some scriputral refrences for your view. All views will be respected. All views can be challenged respectfully. As for my view, it is a fledgling one that is constantly be changed and refined.

After reading a blog about a man wrestling with the idea of writing a letter to exempt his daughter from saying the 'Pledge of Allegiance' I began to wonder about what that pledge really meant. Were we placing America on an even keel with God's plan, or were we simply giving homage to the land that we live in? I came to support the latter. My support comes from Romans 13 specifically the parts in bold.

But the plans of the LORD stand firm forever, the purposes of his heart through all generations. Blessed is the nation whose God is the LORD, the people he chose for his inheritance. From heaven the LORD looks down and sees all mankind; from his dwelling place he watches all who live on earth-. No king is saved by the size of his army; no warrior escapes by his great strength. A horse is a vain hope for deliverance; despite all its great strength it cannot save. But the eyes of the LORD are on those who fear him, on those whose hope is in his unfailing love to deliver them from death and keep them alive in famine. We wait in hope for the LORD; he is our help and our shield. In him our hearts rejoice, for we trust in his holy name. May your unfailing love rest upon us, O LORD, even as we put our hope in you.

Am I way off-base here in reading that we are a blessed nation because of how we were founded. Now, before any more arguements erupt here, there is substantial evidence shown in our founding that we had 'christian' ideals as that basis for our government and religious freedom was the entire purpose of the pilgrims coming here in the first place. To say that we are still blessed today because America is "the nation whose God is the LORD," is not true, yet I believe that we have been blessed by God because we are Christians and we serve a risen Lord. This last point I believe is seen in the second bolden part of the previous scripture. God looks down and sees all mankind. He sees us here in America and blesses us inspite of the fact that America is no where near a nation with christian morals.

One big problem I have with other blogs is the absolute statement that it is idolatrous to be patriotic and pro America. Do Not call me an idolator. Let's look at what exactly and idol and idol worship is.
Idol : a representation or symbol of an object of worship
- don't see this applying to the idea of supporting America
: an object of extreme devotion
- America is not perfect in the least, don't support everything, perhaps this particular definition should be reserved for the Muslims.

Worship : to honor or reverence as a divine being or supernatural power
- America is neither so we can perform this act.
: to regard with great or extravagant respect, honor, or devotion
- now here we can address some issues. Again we place such emphasis on the first definition that we miss the second definition entirely. Look at last bold section of the following scripture. Here is another passage that warns us not to get caught up or mincing words:

Keep reminding them of these things. Warn them before God against quarreling about words; it is of no value, and only ruins those who listen. 2 Tim 2:14

Pauls states that God has set up the governments to be His servant. There is nothing scripturally or morally wrong with saying the 'Pledge of Allegiance' as a way of paying homage to those who have given the ultimate sacrifice so that we can live in the country that we do today. I am also not and idolator because I love America and the freedom that she stands for after all if the government was put in place by God then shouldn't we respect it.

Everyone must submit himself to the governing authorities, for there is no authority except that which God has established. The authorities that exist have been established by God. Consequently, he who rebels against the authority is rebelling against what God has instituted, and those who do so will bring judgment on themselves. For rulers hold no terror for those who do right, but for those who do wrong. Do you want to be free from fear of the one in authority? Then do what is right and he will commend you. For he is God's servant to do you good. But if you do wrong, be afraid, for he does not bear the sword for nothing. He is God's servant, an agent of wrath to bring punishment on the wrongdoer. Therefore, it is necessary to submit to the authorities, not only because of possible punishment but also because of conscience. This is also why you pay taxes, for the authorities are God's servants, who give their full time to governing. Give everyone what you owe him: If you owe taxes, pay taxes; if revenue, then revenue; if respect, then respect; if honor, then honor.

Now as far as the recent blogs about non-violence. We can all agree that out and out criminal action is not right, but how can God be about non-violence and yet setup governments that do "not bear the sword for nothing". If we were to have complete non-violence then get ready for more Rwanda's and to have another 800,000 people hacked to death. God knows that man would run amuck and cause such destruction if there were not boundaries and those boundaries enforced, physically enforced if need be. For me non-violence needs to become the first thought but I don't believe that we need, would, or are commanded to carry this to the point of allowing harm to come to us or our families.

The view that I am uncertain where I stand for sure is that of being involved in politics. You have to be reminded of what Peter says in the verse below:

Dear friends, I urge you, as aliens and strangers in the world, to abstain from sinful desires, which war against your soul. Live such good lives among the pagans that, though they accuse you of doing wrong, they may see your good deeds and glorify God on the day he visits us.

Yes we don't belong to this world but if there are plenty of Christian men involved in politics but the problem is to be sure that we/they don't get so involved that the sight/vision of our mission on earth is lost and takes second place to the goals of the political party.

If you dont' want to be involved with the military/politics/America then you need to stop paying taxes because as Paul writes "This is also why you pay taxes, for the authorities are God's servants, who give their full time to governing" The taxes we pay support our troops and the political agenda of the government wether we agree with both or not.

Well, that is my position. Now feel free to shoot holes in it if you like but refer to the disclaimer at the beginning of this post before doing so.

A Break

2006-09-14T13:37:00.000-07:00

I think I'll take a break from the posts about sexual purity for a couple of days.

Try this one on for size.

You are in a room on one end of a house and there is a room on the other end of the house with 3 light bulbs in it.
There is no way to see the other room without leaving your room and going to the other end of the house.
In your room there are 3 light switches, each one controls one of the three light bulbs in the other room. The order of the switches has no bearing on which light bulb is turned on.
You can only leave the room one time to go the other room to check on the light bulbs.
How can you tell which switch controls which light bulb?

Homosexuality = Heterosexualtiy

2006-09-13T06:51:00.000-07:00

Things that make you say Hmmm...

First let me interject here about this, previous, and subsequent blogs. Most of this is written from the stand point of looking in the mirror and some deep introspection. I hope that it causes the same in you.

"What a wretched man I am! Who will rescue me from this body of death? Thanks be to God—through Jesus Christ our Lord! So then, I myself in my mind am a slave to God's law, but in the sinful nature a slave to the law of sin."

Back to the topic.

What I am talking about here is that we don't place the same emphasis on heterosexual impurity as we do homosexuality. If I ask you to rate on a scale of 1-10 (10 being most disguted) where would you rate your feelings about homosexuality? 10, 20, 50. It's a no brainer. When you watch a movie and 2 guys kiss you immediately cringe, cover your eyes, and look for the fastforward button to get past that scene. Why? Because it is unnatural and we are taught to despise it from an early age.

What about heterosexual impurity? How would you rate it on a scale of 1-10? Be honest now, don't give the pat 'church of christ' answer here 'Oh, well that's easy a 10 for sure'. 2, 4 maybe even a 6 if we had some distain for it.

I can't help but believe that God is just as disgusted with homosexuality as He is with heterosexual impurity. After all isn't heterosexual impurity a perversion of what God has created. Yet, we don't hate it. Do you? Did you? How much did you hate it when you were dating your wife, or other girls in college. You hated it so much that you drove to your 'spot' 2,3,4 times a week to gratify your sexual desires and lusts?

How about in movies as in the first paragraph. Do you fastforward a scene? rent the movie with a scene in it? Here is my problem with movies with sex scenes, we rationalize them to be okay. We say 'Well they are married in the movie." WHAT!!! One, they are not married in 'real' life so you are watching two people committ adultery right in front of you and you paid to watch it. Two, you would be called a voyeur and thrown in jail if you peered through your neighbors window to watch them. Three, you should only be getting sexual fulfillment from your wife. If you get aroused from the scene then you have sinned.

Why do we accept one and loathe the other?

"We know that the law is spiritual; but I am unspiritual, sold as a slave to sin. I do not understand what I do. For what I want to do I do not do, but what I hate I do. And if I do what I do not want to do, I agree that the law is good. As it is, it is no longer I myself who do it, but it is sin living in me. I know that nothing good lives in me, that is, in my sinful nature. For I have the desire to do what is good, but I cannot carry it out. For what I do is not the good I want to do; no, the evil I do not want to do—this I keep on doing. Now if I do what I do not want to do, it is no longer I who do it, but it is sin living in me that does it. So I find this law at work: When I want to do good, evil is right there with me."

Do we really hate heterosexual impurity? I bet we do when it comes to our children. Are we raising our children to detest this? Are we setting the example for them? can we? Do we hate it enough in our own lives to 'purify' ourselves and consecrate our eyes, mind, and heart to sexual purity for the sake of our wives and children?

-Will you raise your boys to have the sexual integrity that might have been lacking in you?
- Will you set the example for your girls to seek acceptance from God and not a man; give them a Godly view of what to look for in a man and how they should be respected?

Do you hate it that much?

One year ago to the Day

2006-09-08T07:02:00.000-07:00

It is hard to believe that it is already one year since Katrina hit the Gulf Coast. So in light of this I have posted my emails that I wrote to remind myself of what I saw.

Friday, September 9, 2005

There is no way that I could ever give you a mental image of the disaster that has happened here. We are in Ocean Springs which is about 8-10 miles east of Biloxi. There was some flooding in many of the homes here but at least they have homes. I got the opportunity to travel with one of the elders to biloxi to pick up a washer and dryer for the youth home so that those displaced would have a place to wash clothes. The sites that I saw are as I said simply indescribable. There was one street where there were no longer any houses. The tidal surge simply wiped out all of the walls and left only the roof to sit on the ground. There is a middle school that looks as though a bomb was dropped on it. We got to drive along hwy 90 right on the beach, or where the beach used to be. The east bound lane is under about 1-2 feet of sand and the west boud lane has been completely picked up and moved about 15-20 feet inland. There is a golf course that has an 80 foot tall steel lighthouse that is now 100 yards away from where it originally stood. The true example of servants are the people of this church. Many have been at the church since Sunday 2 weeks ago and have not gone home either because they don't have one or there is simply too much to do at the building. There is an unbelievable amount of supplies here for the community. Most of it has been given away twice over. People wait in the lobby while the women fill up cases and cases and sacks and sacks of supplies (i.e. all manner of canned food, personal supplies, paper supplies, and cleaning supplies). All of us got the experience of cleaning out a woman's home today. She lives 50 ft from a canal and had water 10ft deep in her house. The water floated up dressers, fridges, and a piano and left them in complete opposite places from where they started. The stench of a flood is also indescribable. The only thing I could compare it too would be a slaughter house on a stale hot humid day with no wind moving to take the smell away. This woman like many others has nothing left in her life that she has accumulated over time (heirloom furniture, years and years of personal journals, pictures, keepsakes, etc....) It really makes you think about the priority that we place on things that can be wiped out in a flash. It is about 11 pm and we have been working non stop since we arrived, I am beat but it drives me forward to see people who have nothing left in life to be working every day to help others rebuild there's. Where your heart is there your treasure is also. Feel free to share this with anyone who has an interest in what is happening here. There are so many stories of things that have happend not only today but in the previous weeks that I couldn't possibly tell them all. I will write again tomorrow about the experiences that lie ahead. Pray continually for everyone here and for the strength of the church.

Saturday, September 10, 2005

Kay Zorn, Kathy Darby, John Osco three names of people that I will never forget. I doubt they will remember the names of some 18 people from Huntsville, AL but they will never forget what 18 people did for them one weekend in September, nor will we forget all that they did for us by letting us bless them and be blessed by them. We finished Kay Zorn's house this morning. Yes, the smell was still there and a little worse after another day of soaking, but yet this woman was still at her house at 7:30 in the morning trying to look through her entire life to see what was salvagable. It still isn't real that we emptied a persons entire life out into her front yard because water that was there for no more than 1 hour completely destroyed it. At several points the reality set in on Kay and she had to walk away as tears of frustration and grief came pouring out. There are no words to console someone who has just lost everything. When we had finished with moving everything out of her house she thanked each one of us with tears in her eyes. She couldn't believe that 8 people whom she never met and most likely will never see again took a weekend to come and help her try to get on with her life. We also worked on John Osco's aunt's house because his family was living there since theirs was completely wiped away in the ocean surge. This house was right on the beach and had about 3 ft of water in it. We ripped out all the sheetrock and insulation and wood flooring in the 1st floor of the house. John's house sat on a penisula out into the bay and the water rose from the ocean side and bay side and met at his and a 100 other houses completely wiping them off of their foundation. At his aun't house was a massive live oak tree that had been ripped out of the ground not because it was broke but because its base wasn't planted in a firm foundation. ( How many devotionals can you get from that.) The last house I helped work on today was Kathy Darby's. They have a 2 story house that had 5-6 ft of water in the 1st level. We had to take the laminate wood flooring and kitchen cabinets out but didn't have time to take out the sheetrock.

There is so much work that has yet to be done, yet there are so many more people to come do the work. There are many more stories that I, and everyone else that came can and will tell. I saw this statement on an email : God does not call the qualified, He qualifies the called.

If Job can do it; I can too!

2006-08-30T14:58:00.000-07:00

"What good is it for a man to gain the whole world, yet forfeit his soul?" - Jesus

How much does it cost to be obedient to the call to not have a hint of sexual impurity, greed, or idolatry?

What is exactly is a 'hint'?

90% of our struggles with sexual purity we can overcome with perseverance and will power. These could be pornographic magazines, movies, websites, etc... But what about the last 10%. For me the last 10% is just flat out looking. How do we overcome our own male trait of getting sexual satisfaction through visual gratification or stimulation?

The answer is easy. We got into this problem of sexual impurity by being male, we will get out of it by being a man. Take David's charge to his son Solomon in the opening chapters of I Kings 2

"I am about to go the way of all the earth," he said. "So be strong, show yourself a man, and observe what the LORD your God requires: Walk in his ways, and keep his decrees and commands, his laws and requirements, as written in the Law of Moses, so that you may prosper in all you do and wherever you go

I particularly want to focus on one section here : observe what the LORD your God requires.

God requires that we make absolutely sure that we don't have even a "hint of sexual immorality, or of any kind of impurity, or of greed, because these are improper for God's holy people." There is a price, a cost for us to take this kind of stand. Hear me very clearly on this: It will not be easy and it will not be natural, at first, to force our minds and eyes to look away from lustful or potentially lustful things. The problem with visually stimulating images is that once we have seen them, even if for a split second, they are imprinted on our memories. Unfortunately it happens in an instance, it is not like studying scripture or a book where we have to concentrate to commit it to memory. In just one split second it is in our memories for our minds to pull up at its own discretion.

Why is it not natural? Let's look at what Paul has to say about this in Romans.

I know that nothing good lives in me, that is, in my sinful nature. For I have the desire to do what is good, but I cannot carry it out. For what I do is not the good I want to do; no, the evil I do not want to do this I keep on doing. Now if I do what I do not want to do, it is no longer I who do it, but it is sin living in me that does it.
So I find this law at work: When I want to do good, evil is right there with me. For in my inner being I delight in God's law; but I see another law at work in the members of my body, waging war against the law of my mind and making me a prisoner of the law of sin at work within my members. What a wretched man I am! Who will rescue me from this body of death? Thanks be to God through Jesus Christ our Lord!
So then, I myself in my mind am a slave to God's law, but in the sinful nature a slave to the law of sin.

Simply we cannot trust our bodies to obey God's command. Sexual purity is a battle that men can never win on their own. It is a temptation that is so strong and such a natural thing that we can't control it on our own. We have got to have God's help, that is the only way we will be able to win this battle for our minds and our souls.

We say, "Well, Jesus was God incarnate. There is no way I can be a person of whom can be said, "My hands never touched a woman in an inappropriate way and my eyes never lustfully looked at at woman" But what about Job.

"I made a covenant with my eyes not to look lustfully at a girl. For what is man's lot from God above, his heritage from the Almighty on high? Is it not ruin for the wicked, disaster for those who do wrong?"

You say, 'okay I think I can do this', but before we jump into this, let's look at the stipulations he put on violating this covenant.

"If my heart has been enticed by a woman, or if I have lurked at my neighbor's door, then may my wife grind another man's grain, and may other men sleep with her."

Can we make this same commitment? Does the cost outweigh the benefit?

As far as the cost goes lets look at the example of Zedekiah in Jeremiah 38. The angel of the Lord has given Jeremiah this message that he takes to Zedekiah. He tell Zedekiah that "This is what the LORD says: 'Whoever stays in this city will die by the sword, famine or plague, but whoever goes over to the Babylonians will live. He will escape with his life; he will live.' What? Give my self over to the enemy. You - are - crazy!!! Then Jeremiah tells him the consequences if he does not follow God. "if you will not surrender to the officers of the king of Babylon, this city will be handed over to the Babylonians and they will burn it down; you yourself will not escape from their hands.'

Well we know the rest of the story. Zedekiah did not do this and Jerusalem was burned to the ground. His sons were killed before him, his eyes were gouged out, and he was led back to Babylon is chains. The price for him not obeying God was the destruction of Jerusalem and the lives of his family.

So I ask again, what is the price for refusing to obey God's command. Your salvation, your kids, grandkids, great grandkids, great-great grandkids. The decisions that we make can effect 4 generations of our descendents.

What 'hints' are you allowing to remain in your life because we just can't " be strong, show yourself a man, and observe what the LORD your God requires: Walk in his ways, and keep his decrees and commands, his laws and requirements, as written in the Law of Moses, so that you may prosper in all you do and wherever you go "

Another Question?

2006-08-29T11:03:00.000-07:00

No arguement but just another question. I am not saying that we shouldn't dress up and give our best but why. Does God really care if we are wearing our best clothes to church but sit there living in an endless of cycle of sin. Sure we admit the big sins but how many little 'pet' sins do we hold onto because we don't want to turn it all over to God but because I am wearing my suit I am "in this setting....should give our best". Kind of like Luke 11:38-40. If we have the means to dress nice then we should do so but I still wonder if we are alienating some people. Just and example, no theological arguements here, but look at the evangelical churches - 3,4, 5000 plus members wearing casual clothes. Do they make people feel more accepted because of their dress?

Tag your it!

2006-08-25T07:56:00.000-07:00

So here is my list of books that have had some kind of influence on my life.

1. One book that changed your life: Every Man's Battle: This book really opens your eyes and mind to what exactly sexual purity entails and how to live your life in such a way that you can be 1000% committed to God and your wife. Yes I know I put 1000% and not 100%.
2. One book that you've read more than once: Hatchet, by Gary Paulsen. Probably one of my all time favorites. Just a good story about a boy who is stranded in the wilderness and fights for survival. One of these books where you get so involved in it you start to play a movie in your mind as you read it.
3. One book you'd want on a desert island: CPA exam books, finally on a desert island I would be able to concentrate on studying them.
4. One book that made you laugh: When an Elephant walks. It is one of Lawson's favorite books and I crack up every time I read it because he does all the sound effects that we do.
5. One book that made you cry: Tuesdays with Morrie. Just a good book.
6. One book you wish had been written: Everything you need to know about how a woman's mind works. Hey the question asked "wish had been written."
7. One book you wish had never been written: CPA exam books.
8. One book you're currently reading: Into Thin Air, by John Krakauer about the Mt. Evrest disaster in the 1990's
9. One book you've been meaning to read: Mere Christianity, started in about 2 years ago and got sidetracked and haven't picked it back up.
10. Tag five others: I started it.

No shirt, No shoes, No service!

2006-08-18T09:56:00.000-07:00

Okay, where in First Opinions do we find that we must dress up to go to church? My reason for this was seeing a man hitchhiking his way to work. I thought should I stop and pick him up then I was like... What would I talk to him about...(nothing because I don't really talk in the car - just ask Stacy)... If I do talk should I just jump right in and say "Man, do you have God in your life?", should I invite him to church...Just say "Be here at 8:15 Sunday morning and I'll carry you to my church." If I were to bring him would he feel embarrassed because of his dress. Maybe he would fit in better at the Inner City...MAYBE.. we shouldn't be so concerned about dress (James 2:3) Do we turn people away because we 'dress up' for Sunday. Does Mayfair get a bad 'rap' because of the middle-to-upper class that attend. Does the size of the building turn people away. But enough rambling here is the main question... Do we dress up on Sunday because a) we worship better when we are dressed up or b) God likes our worship better when we dress up.

If you choose (a) then evidently only business men required to wear suits to work are able to give true worship during the week...if (b) then poor people are just up a creek and I only have 3 suits so 4 days out of the week God doesn't appreciate my worship which is not very good because I am not dressed up.

Are we alienating people, not intentionally, I would never be so presumptuous to assume that, by the way we dress and they then seek out other denominations in which they feel more 'accepted'?

You can also bring up the dress of today but that is another blog all together but I will say this...When you let your daughter wear 'cool' clothes or 'fitting' clothes your are accomplishing one thing... The demoralizing of you daughter and her right to be respected. Boys/Men are not looking at her thinking...'Man, I she looks intelligent she would be nice to talk to.' To the men we have NO RIGHT to do this. That woman is a wife/sister/mother/daughter or will be one day. Would you want other men looking at your little girl thinking those thoughts. Come on now lets be real we are men and we know how men think so why would we allow our women to dress in a way to promote those thoughts and disrespect herself. Sorry for the tangent.

Working together?

2006-08-18T09:24:00.000-07:00

In sending the email's out for people to pray for April I had subscribed to the West Huntsville spam email so that I could forward the email to the members there and let them sign-up as well. I recieved some other e:mails due to this. One closed..."West Huntsville is a great place to be". Anyways, when we first came over here to visit Michelle we attended the church there. The building was rather large for such a small membership. Since I am not from here nor do I know the history of all the church splits and divisions it seemed that the church at West Huntsville was withering away. For quite some time I have seen a FOR SALE sign in front of Fanning Heights Church of Christ as well as West Huntsville. Lately, however, there have been several billboards that advertise 'West Huntsville - A place where families grow". Are they trying to reinvent themselves, build their membership back up? This leads me to a thought that I had this morning as I passed the billboard and thought about the FOR SALE sign.... Why don't churches help each other grow or fix problems? It appears that we are 'sects', for lack of a better word. In the business world, specifically retail, if a store is suffering in performance and production then the District Manager or HQ sends a person or several persons to help build that store back up to an acceptable level. The company has invested to much money in property, inventory, personnel to let the store simply dwindle down to nothing and then walk away. Back to my question. Why don't we do this? Are we too prideful? Have we somehow become 'holier' than he/she at 'that' congregation? Do we disagree to such a degree that we won't help a church stay together and recover and grow? After all isn't there really just one goal? Heaven. Look at it in business perspective. How much time and energy do we have invested in the members of a church? What about the countless thousands of dollars 'given' to help pay for the building, activities, outreach, etc... I highly doubt that Wal-mart would have some 1.8 million employees and be the #1 retailer in the world if they didn't back up their stores that struggled. Sure they close stores when they become outdated but they don't simply disperse those employees to other stores and not build a bigger better store to serve the orginal area. Am I off base here in this comparison? If a church dwindles away and closes it's doors then who will be there to serve/minister to immediate area? Imagine the possibilities if we actually supported the other local congregations that were struggling and maybe sent several members to help 'revamp' or 'build' up the church...WAIT HOLD ON... that is way out of my comfort zone, besides what could I do? And there lies the quandry. Is it possible to move past the comfort zones and doubts about our abilities and really concentrate on furthering the work of the Kingdom? What could happen? Maybe we will only ponder and imagine and then realize that even that is an uncomforable to do and return to our 'hole' and let churches dwindle and close. I recently read a story about a rural Missouri church that added a second worship 'site' NOT service and they quadrupled in size. Well there are multiple 'worship' sites in town and around the world. What if we (the church) helped to expand and keep those 'sites' going strong? Would the Church of Christ be on the "Nightly News" getting an interview from Tom Brokaw about how fast it is growing and how many members join every month?

Fractional Addiction

2006-08-10T18:54:00.000-07:00

Our Men's wednesday night class started last night. I was impressed/thankful to see over 40 men attend this class to learn how to fight this battle we are forever engaged in. I fear that there is quite possibly a war that we have no 'earthly' idea that is going on for our souls, and yet at the same time we are more than equiped to fight the battle for our minds and our hearts here in this world. This class has definetly opened up my eyes to the onslaught the Devil throws at us men everyday. I am not quite sure if I am being attacked more now that I am reading this book again and trying to lead other men in this battle or if my eyes are just opened to what the world really holds. Stoeker introduces this idea of 'fractional addition' in the book. He proposes that there is a bell curve to represent the spectrum of men that struggle with not having a 'hint' of sexual immorality. On the left side of the bell curve are the 10% of men that don't have a real struggle with sexual purity on the far right side is the 10% that has a serious addiction and problem with sexual immorality. The middle of the curve is the 80% of men that have some sort of 'fractional addiction' to and struggle with sexual purity. But to quote my dad on this issue - "90% of men struggle with it and the other 10% are lying".

Fractional addiction ensares those of us, myself included, who struggle with what exactly a 'hint' is. Is a 'hint' owning a movie. For instance the beloved - "Forrest Gump". Did your mind not flash to a sex scene with Sally Field even though you could only hear the interaction. Let's take "Walk the Line" a movie that glorifies adultery. Perhaps it is a lingering look at the cover of women's magazines in the check out aisle at the supermarket. The problem lies in our 'mixed' standard of sexual purity. Sure most of us wouldn't dare to take our sexual impurity to the level of perhaps an affair. Although if we are going to use Jesus as the 'bar' then, correct me if I am wrong, but He did say that "even look lustfully at a woman, you have committed adultery with her in your heart." But I digress, back to my point. We wouldn't have a physical affair so we somewhat comform to that part of God's command but do we always "Flee from sexual immorality." You see we turn the standard of sexual purity into a 'cafeteria' plan for our own good. Whatever I can feel comfortable following then those are the parts I will follow but the parts that are 'too hard' for me to follow I will leave out. We 'mix' standards and that is precisely the root cause for our predicament we find ourselves in today.

So I will close with one final thought. Are we 'obedient' to God's call for sexual purity or are we 'excellent' at following His plan? Before you answer think of the differnce in these two terms. Obedience is 100% following what you are called to do. Excellence on the other hand is falling just short of perfection (obedience). You see it is too costly for a company to give 'perfect' service, a 'perfect' product, a 'perfect' store so they stop just short and give 'excellent' service, products, and stores. So I ask again...Are we 'obedient' to God's call for sexual purity or are we merely excellent at following it.

We're leaving this one here?

2006-08-10T07:49:00.000-07:00

I imagine that Lawson has no clue what is about to happen to him. He loved looking at Jordan and gave her plenty of kisses, but I don't quite think he knows that she is coming home with us.

One Man, Two Women

2006-08-10T07:35:00.000-07:00

I am now the proud father of a baby girl who has somehow managed to capitvate my heart the second I heard her cry. I was wondering how can you love another child as much as you love the first. Well one fact is certain. You never run out of love. There is no capacity on it, no set amount that you are given to use at your discretion.

Random Thoughts

2006-07-28T15:05:00.000-07:00

So after reading several blogs and the links to peoples blogs that comment I have one conclusion...my theory about who blogs has held true to this point. Another observation is that people use this as a vent/jab at their spouse. It could be a statement about the lack of help around the house or with the children or it could be about how a classmate from high school looks now, which is not bad but it earks me when the comment about how good the person looks now is followed with 'sigh'. Maybe it is just me but after reading "Every Man's Battle" several times he makes the point that we don't have the right to look at anyone else let alone dream or 'wonder' about someone who was in our past. Just seems to me to leave an opening for the mind to start to wander and Satan to begin is work. I don't know maybe I am way off base. As far as jabs at spouses I don't really think that a public blog is a place to express those even if they are true that needs to be kept private or expressed between the two of you.

Stacy and I have started reading James Dobson's "Night Light". It has been wonderful to go to bed and read a devotional thought and hear what your spouse is thinking or has to say on/about that subject. I look forward to being able to just take some alone time and examine our relationship. I am also looking forward to this weekend. Our good friends Sunny and Jason have been suckered, I mean volunteered to keep Lawson for us this weekend so that we can have a fun weekend with just the two of us before the baby gets here. I am really pumped about this. T-minus 3 minutes as I write this.

One final thought... Tonight when you go to bed reminisce with your spouse about the fun times and places you went together when it was just the two of you. To quote Jason " It does me good to remember when..."

[NAME] Stacy

2006-07-26T13:36:00.000-07:00

Criteria: 1. Not made up out of a common product. (i.e. Lemonjello, Orangejello, or (kenny's favorite) S$&%head.)
2. Can be a name that could be used for a male but if it were used for a male it would draw to serious question that male's masculinity.
3. You have to be able to pronounce it on the first try. (see criteria 1.)
4. Must have 5-7 letters.
5. Must end with a consanant. Those do not include a e i o u.
6. Most importantly..........If you are right you'll have to wait until Aug. 9th, Lord willing.

Name?

2006-07-26T08:30:00.000-07:00

How 'bout a list of possible names for my baby girl.

Title?

2006-07-26T07:08:00.000-07:00

Here's a question... Phillip Allen and I are leading the Men's class on Wednesday night. We need to have a name and a brief description to give to Joe Essner to put in the bulletin. Does anyone have any suggestions? It needs to grab men's attention and get them intrigued but not scare them off because of the subject of purity that will be discussed in the class.

Running Late

2006-07-26T06:40:00.000-07:00

Is it just me or does running late from the get go seem to put you behind the preverbial 8 ball. I always feel this way until a break/lunch. Then it seems as if everything has caught up, just like on "The Amazing Race" where people leave at 4 a.m. and have a huge lead on the other teams but then everyone has to wait at the same spot for the zoo/museum to open up. Usually when I start off late I end up having this great internal monologue about how I am 27 years old and have trouble getting out of bed early enough to get the things done that I need to do before going to work ... yada ... yada ... yada... . Well, enough 'blogging' for now. I had thought of all these great things to hash out on the blog, but then.... I was 'running late'........

What in the world....

2006-07-25T15:36:00.000-07:00

FINE, ALRIGHT ALREADY!!! I guess I will try this 'blogging' thing out. (can you feel the sarcasm). Stacy will ridicule me over this because not 2 minutes ago I was just making fun of people that 'blogged'. Mainly I was making fun of Kenny because he has gotten sucked into this world too. I had thought/still think this stuff is for people (housewives) who have nothing to do while the kids sleep or youth ministers who, well let's face it, don't really have a set schedule and teacher/coaches who get 2 months off during the summer. Well I think I covered all of my friends who have blog spots so I might as well join them. It will be a good place to empty out my thoughts on life and respond to others thoughts and their feelings about situations. Well since my day is structured and I only get paid for what work I do, I guess I had better finish this up and get back to work.