Across the field you see the sky ripped open

A few days back I was praying and all of the sudden I found myself proclaim aloud that "This is the only shot at April 19th 2008 that I have, and I want to make it great."

Life passes so quickly, I think it’s easier for me to understand this now that I have children that change before my eyes. When we were kids my mom always used to say “This is the day the LORD has made; let us rejoice and be glad in it” – Psalms 118:24. Those words are so true, God made today with an intent purpose, not just to be another day. No, today is the day He planned for, a day in which HIS plan will be put forth. What amazing satisfaction I find in that, God has an incredible plan for today, even if today sucks as some days will, it doesn’t matter. I’m not saying I am going out and changing the world every day, but I am prayerfully seeking God and listening for His voice. When I started doing this on a regular basis I was blown away by the things that started happening.

I love the sound a nice camera makes as it focuses and takes a picture. I have wanted a Nikon digital SLR for a long time and in light of recently losing my other digital camera I finally bought one. Yes, I found my old camera (that had been lost for several weeks) less then 24 hours after ordering this one, but its too late - its here and I am keeping it.
















So here it is....

And this is the first photo it took.

Numero 3

This story reminds me of the time Mark left his Honer at the Blue Bird after the show we played with the highly acclaimed buttrock group, Theory of a Dead Man. http://www.9news.com/news/watercooler/article.aspx?storyid=89961

I just remember the roadie telling us how they were heading to Europe after the show to meet up with Puddle of Mud or someone of that nature. God bless the old Strikethurman days, long live buttrock.

Email blog 2

The new episode of The Office disappointed me tonight. It wasn't last episode of Seinfeld bad, but it wasn't worth the months and months of wait. You would think the writers would have some better material considering their long ass vacation.  

Bone

Thank you Josh..

for reminding me that I can blog via email. My new company has some pretty strict internet and security policies which only increase my lack of internet presence. It has been good though as I haven’t had the opportunity to surf and waste time, instead I have been busy doing what I consider a real job for the first time in several years..

Not that my old job wasn’t legit, it was just no longer challenging. Now I actually have to use my brain again, learn all new company policies, people, systems and products. I have to stretch myself technically as I don’t have a technical resource to lean on like I used to. In other words, this is much more satisfying because I can once again accomplish something, something great. So far things have been even better than I expected and the transition has been fluid. I was worried that after 8 years with my previous company the world somehow had nothing better to offer, thankfully I was wrong.

So, thanks for the thoughts and prayers. Please continue to pray that I sell a ton of software as Tiff wants a MacBook, I lost my camera so I want a Nikon D40x and my wardrobe was sorely in need of an update as jeans no longer cut it.

Bone

Ridiculous? Maybe..

The airing of grievances

Yesterday I was having a conversation with a friend and it turned into a discussion about our pet peeves. See, he brought up how he had recently been on a date and his lady friend (whom he had just met) proceeded to spend the entire night complaining about general life issues. I told him I could relate, "people with a negative outlook are really annoying." Then somehow the next 15 minutes turned into us taking turns complaining about things that drive us nuts, ironic? Maybe.

1. If we are in bumper to bumper traffic and I let you in, please offer a "thank you" wave.

2. If I ask you how you are doing and it happens to be a Monday, please don't refer to the fact that it is indeed Monday so you are "doing as good as you can for a Monday."

3. Please don't walk up and make conversation with me at the urinal. You are a complete stranger, make friends somewhere else.

4. Please don't use the word "irregardless".

5. If you need to talk to me, please don't send me an email asking me to call you. Pick up the damn phone.

6. If the group wants to go eat pizza, please don't be the guy that says "Can't do it, just had it 2 days ago."

7. If we are at a stop light please don't pull up in the lane that has to immediately merge. Get in line like the rest of us.

8. And last (for now) but certainly not least, please for the love of god don't be the guy in the restaurant, or in public in general, that has to scream at the top of your lungs while on your cellphone so we all think you are important.

Peanuts anyone?

Recently I was on a flight to Seattle and there were some strong winds which caused the plane to rock violently back and forth, in fact as we were coming in to land it felt like the tip of our wings were going to hit the trees below. Across the aisle next to me sat a gentlemen who was afraid to fly and was actually on a plane for the first time. He was an absolute mess but thankfully next to him was a calm elderly gentlemen who said he had been in aviation his entire life as a pilot and an engineer. Once we landed everyone broke out in applause and nervous laughter as relief sat in, the elderly gentlemen leaned over and said "That was a serious situation, the pilot earned his wings with that landing."

This is footage of an Airbus 320 trying to make a landing in Germany this past weekend. There were some obvious fierce crosswinds that made for a close call but thank God the pilot was able to save the day. Can you imagine being on that plane??

Why did they wait so long?

Just the other day I was telling Tiff how I missed the simplicities of small town life. One of my favorite memories was spending countless days at the local swimming pool with all of my friends during the summer. Mark and I would walk the 6 or so blocks with the $1.25 entry fee clinched tightly in hand. Once there we would quickly find a place to lay our towels, take off our shirts and jump in. We would swim and swim until the loudspeaker came on and it was time for a 15 minute rest period. We were never quite sure why they forced these mandatory breaks, but all we knew was this was concession stand time. The concession stand had all of the great american summer snacks; big hunks, laffy taffy, lemon heads, zots, and my personal favorite.. The Atomic Fireball. Oh how I loved the pain that damn fireball would inflict but just as it was unbearable, ahh the sweet candy center. We would gather around, each with a fireball in hand, count down and simultaneously pop them in our mouths to see who could stand the heat the longest before spitting it out and going for the fountain.

Fast forward 18 years and I find myself in a coworkers office last week discussing a little business. He casually offers me a small lemon head sized red candy, I accept and as I bite down I realize this is not just any candy, this is something I love, something I remember! I ask and his reply is "Yep, it sure is. They have them at Walgreens." Of course I make haste to the nearest Walgreens and just as he had promised, boxes upon boxes of the chewy treats.

My friends, it is so.. The

A conversation I had today made me realize how absurdly opposed to change I am. I have always somewhat known this, but I had no idea how ridiculous it was. People always say that change is good, life is full of change etc, etc, but I find myself holding on to make sure things stay the way they are. The fact is things are good and the fear of something bad happening sometimes holds me back from taking the chance to make things better.

I have a blog in process that will change the way you look at the world, stay tuned. Until then, Bella says stay cool.

Will this post make it to my blog once its all said and done? Possibly. I would guess less than half of what I actually start typing actually makes its way into public view. Once I am done I put it through some sort of mental checklist to somehow validate its "publishability".

I woke up last week and decided that this is going to be an excellent year. My family is complete, healthy, blessed, I have a wonderful support group of friends, God has been gracious blessing me with every provision. Growth surrounds me and I want to be engrossed in it as well; reading my bible with an addictive zeal, speaking life into this world, taking a positive attitude into every situation, living with the passion I had prided myself in -- I choose these things.

When I was young my mom would say "death and life are in the power of the tongue" (Proverbs 18:21) which I took quite literally. The seemingly simple wisdom of the Proverbs, what a wonderful "how to" book for life. You want self help, soak it up. Far to often people turn to complicated descriptions and analyzations of the scripture, and while there is nothing inherently wrong with that, it can be a crutch. I believe God laid the BOOK out for each of us to submerse ourselves in on a personal level and that He reveals it to us individually as we seek Him. Bible studies, small groups, conversations about scripture their revelations and meanings are great, I am specifically referring to the over-reliance on books about God rather than focusing on the book written BY Him. These Proverbs are simple enough to shape a young boy and powerful enough to guide a mans steps..

I blog therefore I am?

Not really although that is how some of my closest friends think - if you're reading this that is probably you.

Bone you gotta blog more often, pgp.

Blogging is like breathing, do it or die Bone!

My answer to all of them/you is why? I spend ample time every day/week talking with you and conversing about anything and everything on my mind. Nevertheless, maybe I turned over a new blog-leaf. I WILL give this a shot, I WONT guarantee it will be worth your time or mine but so be it and enjoy.

pictoblog

This is dead serious....

Sean and Josh doing the swan dance...

I hate cranium. It breaks up friendships and lives...

The first and best video of 2008, Bruce...