Time to Go off Air

Well I think its that time. The  past 6 month now has been a struggle, hassle and frustration in my life to keep my blog up to date.  And as much as I enjoy having a blog and the idea of writing something that will change the way you view life…or change the way you view my life…I am going to take a sabbatical from blogging.  Not sure how long it will last or if this is retirement but I will keep the blog open just because.  You can follow me on Twitter or Facebook

I think this weblog had a good run.  It started with a prank on my uncle…and then didnt end so well for me after that.  You went on vacation with us, and when we got Shiloh and Sophie.  You all helped me choose a banner, and I shared with you about how to be a blogging BFF (even though I didn’t always follow the rules).  OH, thanks for  making my blog one of the top 20 fastest growing blogs on wordpress (for about a week).  You made that happen by going to my site over 1200 times in one day!  With everything said and done I hope that I was able to do what I originally set out to do, and that was to help you and me to step forward < step out < step closer.

Thank you.

Costa Rica Update

Well there is nothing new to tell…But I did get this picture from Carlos.  Everyone is going good.  The thumbs up says so.

More Life Outside of TV

The TV is still off.  And in fear of being too transparent I have noticed one thing about myself…I’m boring, almost characterless.  And if someone were to ask me “What do you like to do?”  I couldn’t say, I play the guitar, piano, photography, sports, exercising, kite flying, balloon popping, skydiving, blowing up stuff, creating things, art, reading or the like.  Maybe im not thinking hard enough but I think I let TV consume so much of my life that if someone were to ask me “What do you like to do?”  I would have to say TV.  Which is kind of embarrassing.  is that what I like to do in my spare time…that’s my hobby, that’s what shapes me?  I don’t want that to be part of my definition.  Don’t mistake this rant on this part of my life to mean I am not passionate about anything except TV.  I love my family and Church, my ministry, traveling, God.  I believe that God didn’t create us to be at church all the time (this is not a complaint about the time I spend at church), I think He wants us to enjoy all aspects of life.  There is so much in this world to be discovered, not just by other people or for other people but for you as well.  I have a great life, and all I want to do is find out how can I make it even more rewarding.  How can I be all that God has created me to be.  All I needed to do was cut out TV, just to see all that is around me.

**Costa Rica Update**

Vanessa Sanchez posted some pictures on her facebook of what the earthquake did to Fe Y Amor.  It looks like it was just the tile that fell.  It looks bad but I dont think anything major happend to the church…Continue to pray for them in the search and rescue efforts and the clean up and rebuilding.

 

across from Fe Y Amor

 

Inside Fe Y Amor

 

Fe Y Amor Clean Up. Still work to be done

Earthquake in Costa Rica

Be sure to Pray for Costa Rica. There was a 6.1 earthquake in Costa Rica today. I spoke with Carlos and he said “it felt like a train hit his house.” He also said it is impossible to get up to Cinco Esquines right now because of some land slides that happened right across the street from the Church we helped a couple of years ago. Carlos spoke with Siena and she said the roof at Fe Y Amor fell in. Im not sure of the exact damage but pray for the church and for the people up in the mountains. I believe the search parties will find everyone they need to find

Dont Be Skeered

I remember when I first gave my life to Christ I gave up a lot of what I thought brought me happiness. Stereo system, turntables…my bed. I think I slept on the floor for about 6 months if not more. It was difficult at first but afterwards It felt good. It felt good to just be free of needing stuff. I like knowing that stuff does not control my life.   Paul said I have lived with and with out (I know he says it but I cant seem to find it…can anyone help me out?)…

In this time when people are afraid to lose the house, car and lifestyle they have worked so hard for, maybe its time they scaled back and gave away all that stuff they thought they needed. Sometimes I need a dramatic change in my life so I can get everything out of the way and find out what is really important in life.  If your afraid to lose a lifeless object, maybe its time to give it away before you do lose it.  In 100 years it will be gone and so will you, its really not that important.

Turning off the TV

Wow WordPress has changed…Ive been gone so long its like a brand new experiance.

I was taking a shower and thinking like I normally do…(think that is, not take a shower) and I felt the urge to fast.  Not a food fast, although I think I’m due for one any day now, but a TV fast.  I know that fasting (not watching) TV is not a true fast, its something that I should be in control of anyways.  I need a dramatic change from that routine so I can get some priorities back as priorities. It may seem easy, but really this comes at a crazy time.  Jack Bauer is about to kick some terrorist butt (after taking a year off!), the people of  Lost will be trying to get lost again, and all the other shows are going to start finishing their seasons.   Not sure how long this is going to last.  It could be until Thursday or it could be a month or many months…we will see.

I made  a list of what I want to see happen while the TV is turned off.  One of them is to blog…so you should be seeing me on here again.  Ok here we go…

Something cool that Xerox is doing

Check out the LWFC outreach blog. Xerox is doing something pretty cool. http://www.growingourcommunity.blogspot.com

Getting Stuck

Getting stuck with the right people can make an unexpected 9 hour waiting session not such a waste of time.  I spent 9 hours working and solving all the leadership issues in the world in the crown room with Pastor Micah.  I had fun…but now im feeling greasy and with I had my baby powder to dry out my hair…great time…thanks Pastor Micah.

Just to Let You Know

I don’t want to write the same post but check my wife’s post out to see what she has to say about the next couple of days.  

For that same reason I will not be posting for a couple of days. 😉

Happy Thanksgiving.

Actually you know what I do have something to blog.

24 had their pre season premiere earlier this week.  This is one of my favorite shows of all time, so i was like a kid in a huge toy store that could choose whatever and howmuchever he wanted.  The 2 hour premiere took place in a place in Africa where a gorilla army was kidnapping kids and turing them into soldiers…Sounds messed up but did you know this really does happen?

So Jen and I went to bed that night and I just had a moment where I started thinking about how much I have to be thankful for…my wife, my daughter, my bed, my 3 covers on my bed, the heater, the bathrooms, the clothes that i have, the roof over my head, the fact that we live of one income and can pay for a home, the food I have, fresh water at any time, 2 cars and motorcycle, a riding lawn mower that I could use as transportation:), the fact that I can have all this stuff, still want more and have the potential to get it…and I could go on.

We really are a blessed nation.  Thanks for praying.

A New Day

WOW.  This really is a historic time.  To have a biracial president elect is a huge deal.  I’m sure there are still people out there that are racially motivated and do not want to see Obama as our next president just because he is half black.  I didn’t vote for him because I don’t agree with him on some major issues, but I do hope that he will lead us well and bring this country back together so we can get some of that good old American pride circulating in our blood again.

I got an email from Cindy Rice today talking about our God given duty to pray for the people in leadership.  I though I would share the prayer that she sent.  This prayer is from the “Prayers that Avail Much” book and is a prayer I will pray if I agree, disagree, like or dislike the leader.  I’m not afraid of the future because no matter what happens nothing can separate me from the love of God (Romans 8:31-39).

PRAY:

Father, in Jesus’ name, we give thanks for the United States and its government.  We hold up in prayer before You the men and women who are in positions of authority.  We pray and intercede for the president, the representatives, the senators, the judges of our land, the policemen and the policewomen, as well as the governors and mayors, and for all those who are in authority over us in any way.  We pray that the Spirit of the Lord rests upon them.

We believe that skillful and godly wisdom has entered into the heart of our president and knowledge is pleasant to him.  Discretion watches over him; understanding keeps him and delivers him from the way of evil and from evil men.

Father, we ask that You compass the president about with men and women who make their hearts and ears attentive to godly counsel and do that which is right in Your sight.  We believe You cause them to be men and women of integrity who are obedient concerning us that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and honesty.  We pray the upright shall dwell in our government – that men and women blameless and complete in Your sight, Father, shall remain in these positions of authority, but the wicked shall be cut off from our government and the treacherous shall be rooted out of it.

Your Word declares that “blessed is the nation whose God is the Lord” (ps. 33:12).  We receive Your blessing, Father; You are our Refuge and Stronghold in times of trouble (high cost, destitution, and desperation). So we declare with our mouths that Your people dwell safely in this land, and we prosper abundantly.  We are more than conquerors through Christ Jesus!

It is written in Your Word that the heart of the king is in the hand of the Lord and that You turn it whichever way You desire.  We believe the heart of our leader is in Your hand and that his decisions are divinely directed of the Lord.

We give thanks unto You that the good news of the Gospel is published in our land.  The Word of the Lord prevails and grows mightily in the hearts and lives of the people.  We give thanks for this land the leaders You have given to us, in Jesus Name.  Amen.