New direction in my life...

For those of you who haven't heard or maybe those who actually want to know more about why I left my job at Christ's Church, I will give a little rundown. That sentence actually sounds kind of weird that anyone would even use this kind of forum to share this or that I actually think someone would care to know.

I left the job I have long thought of as my dream job on April 7th, '09.
This whole idea transpired over about a 3 day span and I can't actually say what exactly push me past the point of even giving the idea any real thought.

In part, I can think of 3 things that have really weighed on me recently. One is my friend Eric who had his dad (also a very good friend of mine) diagnosed with cancer and go from "fine" to near death in a matter of days. I struggled between wanting to go hang out with them but I also didn't want to interfere in what could be their last days together. Sadly enough, I also had struggles with having other responsibilities (work...) that I allowed to get in the way of where my real ministry should have been taking place. Not the jobs fault, but my own for allowing it to get to that point. I am thrilled to say that Eric and his dad Mike have had more days together than they ever thought while Mike was laying in that hospital bed. I shed tears after I hugged Mike when I saw him at our Easter services just a few days ago.

Secondly, would be a relative of mine who has fallen into some trouble. I know that I had years to step up and talk to him about the path he was on and I was too busy. Too wrapped up in myself. My own little all-important world. I owe him a serious apology regardless if even one word would have made the slightest difference.

Third was my home life. I have been such a pathetic example of a husband and a father. I have carried guilt around for the last few years over how poorly I did my real job; the one away from the office.
I have long had the Holy Spirit pointing to a verse that I continually dodged. The verse talks about those who are leaders/workers/preachers, etc. in the church. It says in 1 Tim. 3;4-5 He must manage his own family well, having children who respect and obey him. For if a man cannot manage his own household, how can he take care of God’s church? I don't belong working in God's house right now and I know that I might never reach that point. Before I think selfishly about my own personal wants, I can honestly say for the 1st time in recent memory, I can't because of what those wants have taken from my family in the past.

I have a wife who has taken leftovers for the duration of our marriage. The YMCA, UNF and ministry may have look like the culprits from the outside but that couldn't be further from the truth. It was me. It was 10 years ago just as it was 3 weeks ago.

This has nothing to do with the church. This isn't a church change. It's a job change. A life change.

I hope my wife and family are ready for this. :-)

To peek or not to peek...that is the question...

I wanted to share a brief excerpt from the Florida Times-Union printed on December 22, 2008 in the Life section. The article was titled "Peaking at Gifts? It's All Political."
The basis of the article was a UNF survey that revealed the likelihood of someone peeking or shaking a gift to determine what they were getting. About one-third of the responders admitted they were guilty of this little spying technique.

Here is the part I thought was amusing, "The pollsters also learned that political party affiliation may be an indicator of who's been naughty or nice. More than 52 percent of Democrats said they peek compared to about 34 percent of Republicans and 17 percent of independents."

The article goes on to ask the question why did the pollsters even add the party about affliation to which they replied, "just to inject a little humor...and grab attention."
Which is exactly why I wrote about it. The prior more than the latter of course. :-)

Burrr.....

I happened upon a list of the highest recorded temperatures for each of the 50 US states and I noticed a surprising observation I'd like to share. With "Global Warming" being the latest craze for so many politicians and environmentalist, I was sure that this current decade would probably have a strong presence on the list.

However...only one state (South Dakota) has seen it's highest temperature (106) in the 2000's. One.

So let's back up a decade and see if it's a "trend-thing."
1990's? Five states recorded their all-time high temperature.
1980's? Three.
1970's? Two.
1960's? One.
1950's? Five.
1940's? Zero.

AND NOW....DRUM ROLL PLEASE...

Of the 50 states, 24 had their highest temperature recorded in the 1930's!

24???

Can you simply imagine the regulations and ramifications if that were to happen today? YIKES! Note above how the 40's had zero states record all-time high's during that decade. Man, they must have thought the ice-age was on its way!

My First Fried Turkey

Just had to share with you what my first fried turkey looked like from this past Thanksgiving. Though the skin wasn't as crisp as I'd like it to be, I was very pleased with the results. Man, I love turkey like this. I may just have to fry another one up for Christmas. Sweet...

One of the top five happiest days of my life...

On the 26th of October, my oldest daughter was baptized by my wife during the 10:30 service at Christ's Church. My daughter is 8 years old and has been asking about getting baptized for the past few years. My wife and I both talked to her and finally came to the conclusion that she was ready to commit to this act of obedience.

My wife broke up as she began to speak and I now believe that I might not have made it through it at all if I was the one in the water. I am a blubbering idiot when it comes to things that are this emotional to me.
I can't tell you how proud I am of my precious little girl and to my wife for playing such a huge role in the moment.

Angels were celebrating that day just as it's described in Luke 15:8-10 (that's the kind of party God's angels throw every time one lost soul turns to God).

Two more teens left in Nebraska hospitals

I think a special prayer needs to be said for the situation in Nebraska where parents have left children at "safe havens" under the states new law allowing them to drop children off without being charged for neglect, etc. Because the law says "children" and doesn't state an age, several have dropped off teenagers, including the two latest cases where 16-year-old's were left.

Apparently one of the girls that was left, had no idea she was going to be dropped off until mom walked away.

Let that sink in for a bit....a mom and daughter walk up to the hospital, which is where the "safe haven" is located, and the mom tells the daughter to wait here and she turns around and walks away for good.

All I could do when I read that was say a prayer and try to share this with others of you who I hope will pray for this situation as well.

The article says that most of the kids whom have been left since July (26 total kids) have been older kids. I don't even know what to say about that right now. It's just so sad.

Something HUGE off my to-do-before-I-die list..

I know this may seem tiny to some of you but on August 13, I completed my very first Rubik's Cube. Yeah, I had one as a child but was never able to get past one full side! Then i got a Rubik's Cube for Christmas this past year and a few days ago, I decided to look at the "Cheat Sheet" that came along with it. Now is that cheating? I guess but even WITH the sheet telling you the proper technique, it took me hours to complete! I had it 98% complete several times only to lose it as you take the leap of faith by messing up the whole cube with the understanding that if you make the right moves, it will all come right back together in the correct location. Here's the worst part...once you mess up at that point, the cube is sooo messed up, you literally have to start back from step one. Ugh.

But never the less, I persevered and the attached photo is proof. And my two girls thought I had to be one of the smartest people on earth which is always a good thing. :-)