New Ride

 I have lost some "swagger" points but feel like I have gained a couple "man" points this past week.  We are no longer owners of 2 minivans.  We now own a minivan and a 2005 Ford Escape (80,000 miles)!  And I couldn't be more excited!

I have been waiting to share this news until I was able to visit the DMV and officially switch the plates and register for the title...which happened today. 

So here is the story.  My in-laws purchased a minivan from Amber's grandpa and were going to then give their minivan to my sister-in-law(s-i-l).  Then my s-i-l was going to give grandpa their Ford Escape for him to trade in or do whatever he wanted to with it.  

Hearing this news, I kind of jokingly said "would grandpa want to trade in a Kia minivan?"  So they asked him and he agreed!  

I was really excited to unload the Kia because it started nickel & dime-ing us (who am I kidding, that thing was really costing us some money).  

So today I went and did all the "Illinois paperwork" and had a new stereo installed so I could use my iphone in it.  Then I did a little shopping for some "Bears accessories." (what is not pictured are Bears front seat covers).

I know that objects are not a source of joy, but man am I HAPPY about this vehicle.  

So even though he won't read this, Thank you Grandpa Jack for your willingness to take our minivan and allow me to have this one!  

Fearless

Yesterday my wife was spending all evening at a jr. high track meet about 1 hour away. So it was a “dude night” at our house. First order of business was to get some pizza, because we all know that “dudes” like to eat pizza.

After dinner, it was still pretty nice out, so we headed out to the park to work off some of the pizza. As soon as get to the park, we began playing a game of tag on the equipment. Obviously dad was “IT” and so it began. This is where my youngest son blew my mind...

I started chasing him and he ran up towards the slide where he had 3 options to escape.

1. fire pole on the right
2. climb down ladder on the left
3. slide straight ahead.

I thought for sure i had him and then he did something that caused me to actually stop in my tracks... he JUMPED from the top of the ladder. Not the top rung. Not the top portion. He didn’t even try to climb down, he literally jumped from the platform with out a thought or concern. It might not sound like that big of a deal, but this platform was a taller than me and my son is only 7!

As I was thinking about “dude night” and my son’s fearless leap, 2 thoughts came to mind. I first got really scared because he wasn’t scared. Then my second thought was, Imagine what he could do if God got a hold of him and planted some God sized dreams and ideas in his head!

Where is my faith?
When did i quit jumping?

So my prayer today is that God would begin (or continue) to work in both of my boys’ lives and may they always have faith in Him and to be able to jump without fear.

First blog from my iPhone

So, February 3 my dreams came true and the iPhone was released for Verizon.

And February 15, I have discovered this app that will let me "blog" from it. So if you are reading this then it worked.

It is supposed to post it on my blog and some how onto Facebook. Let's see what happens.

Here is the first picture I took with my iPhone. I wanted to check out the quality and thought this was a pretty colorful moment at subway.



- posted from my iPhone.

Location:E 400th St,Orion,United States

the disciples circle

So in my reading of Acts 1 & 2, i've decided that i could easily have been one of Jesus disciples.

Situation 1

Acts 1:5 "...and he proved to them in many ways that he was actually alive."  

really guys?  you couldn't accept the fact that Jesus was beat beyond recognition and that some of  you watched the breath leave his lungs, and now he is chillin with you?  You need him to "prove" that he was actually alive?  you couldn't take the proof of Thomas putting his finger into his side?  

then it hit me... how many times to i need Jesus to prove to me that he's still alive?  

Situation 2

Acts 1:24 - "...O Lord, you know every heart.  Show us which of these men you have chosen."  (to replace Judas)

Acts 1:26 - "then they cast lots."  

so they prayed for a couple days about a very important decision and then basically flipped a coin to see who God chose.  I have so done that!!  i am horrible when it comes to waiting for God to "show me."  So i'll leave it to petty things to show me "God's direction."  

the worst part is this happened in between a 10 day window of when Jesus told them that they will receive the Holy Spirit and have power to be his witness to when Jesus sent the Holy Spirit on the day of pentecost.  

how long are we willing to wait?  can we wait 10 days?  what if God wants us to wait longer?  am i willing to wait?  

thanks God for busting my chops.  

God's word...Still busting my chops

So i was reading Acts 1 & 2 tonight and came across some things that gave me hope and also busted my chops.  i thought i would share them with the world since my wife was just giving me flack for not updating my blog...

Acts 2:6 "When they heard the loud noise, everyone came running." 

     (referring to the day of Pentecost when the Holy Spirit descended into the upper room).

after i read this, i thought..."wow, is God's presence in my life causing curiosity in the lives of those around me?"  

right now, i think i'm safe to say that it's not.  I've been in a dry place for the past several months (many of you already knew that) and i'm just now starting to grow a pair and take care of business on my end.  I'm in the process of trying to re-focus and get off my pitty potty.   

God, may your presence be so obvious in my life it would cause curiosity in those around me, and give me the wisdom to answer the questions and the humility to point them to you.

A-rod

i was watching sportscenter this morning and if you follow sports at all, you've probably heard about Alex Rodriguez and all the stories that surround him and steriod usage.

well, this morning one of their arguments of his usage is the idea that he put on 20-25 pound between his sophomore and junior year of High school. i felt bad for the guy because of this allegation. His growth could have been from his body finally taking to lifting weights or just developing.

i remember the Christmas of my sophomore year i freaked out because i jumped from around 160 to around 180lbs in a 6 month window. the only reason i remember is because i had a talk with my mom and she assured me that it was okay and that the weight gain was because i started lifting weights and it was probably mostly muscle. And i can honestly say that i've never taken anything (i know that statement falls null and void when it relates to HGH).

does that mean that A-rod has never taken anything? no, he probably has. But i just felt bad for the guy when they think he took it during high school and so early in his career. '

thats all. GO CUBS!!!

The bride

I went to a friends wedding this weekend and she was a very beautiful bride on the big day.  everything seemed to flow smoothly and as she described/desired it...simple but still very classy.

As i was sitting in the back row the thought came over me about the church and how we are Christ's bride and he is the bride groom anxiously waiting for His beautiful bride and for God to tell Him to go get us.  

but then the question that popped into my head is "how beautiful is his bride?"  sometimes i feel like his bride forgot what she looks like and she thinks she's Cinderella, when in actuality, we are probably more like the evil step sisters.  Abusive, back stabbing, lazy, agenda driven brats!

We want to argue over the little things (pearl necklaces, sashes, earrings, etc) instead of focusing on the ball and making sure we are ready for our prince charming.

so the question that is now through my head as i type... "would the glass shoe fit on my/our foot?"  Christ is looking for a beautiful bride that slipped out mid-dance and is searching high and low for her.  

Are we what He is looking for?