Saying good bye to an old friend

Check out my post "Saying good bye to an old friend" on My Coding Blog. I know most of the time it is dull, techie stuff but you may find this post meaningful.

Wordless Wednesday

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Spring = 72 Springs!

Spring is finally here! The weather is nice and starting to get warm. My two ladies and I went for a walk yesterday after noon since it was so nice out. On the way back home Abby said it's time to put the trampoline up. It wasn't too late so that is what we did when we got home. Abby loves to jump, and jump, and jump on the trampoline!

This particular trampoline was given to us by some friends at church. Thank YOU!!! If you haven't guessed by now it has 72 springs around it. Here are some pics taken shortly after getting it up.

It's the little things

Well, my company is remodeling our office. Another office relocated so we are getting their "more stylish" furniture -- not necessarily more functional, but definitely more stylish. They are putting in new carpet and painting all the walls. Yellow, green, purple and orange. You would have to see it to believe it but it is really going to look nice. A lot better than the off-white that we have been used to!

Since they were getting new furniture they had a lottery and let us employees take some of the old furniture. So, with about fifty bucks in gas, two vans, and two strapping young men from our youth group, I got about 1.5K+ worth of nice office furniture. One desk for my home office and the rest for the pastor's office at church. Our God can sure find unique ways to provide!

During the remodel the the kitchen has been off-limits for about a week. This is hard on me because I normally brown-bag left-overs from the night before and heat them up in the microwave. It is one of those built in models that can't be moved. The first day of last week I did not take a lunch and just planned to buy my lunch (insert gasp here). I had a meeting with the other IT guys at about 11:30. Another lady walked in to get the lunch order for the group that was meeting over lunch-time. I was not in the lunch meeting but since I was sitting there she offered to pick up my lunch also. Isn't God just Awsome!!! I packed a sandwitch the rest of the week so I would not have to use the microwave or the debit card.

It is the little things like this that really speak God's love to me. You know the saying, "The way to a man's heart is through his stomach?" I think God knows this is absolutely true with me. :-)

Our Schools? - Part 2

In a comment to my last post my good friend Dale asked, "do you oppose the mandatory drug testing for teachers who apply for the job to teach our children? I don't see where that is different..." This is an excellent question and deserves consideration. Take a look at his comment. He makes some very good points.

I think drug testing for school teachers is a good idea. I actually think it is a good idea for day-care workers and anyone else who will be working closely with young people. The key is that when they apply for the job it is their choice. There is no government law forcing them to take that job. If the job requires anything they do not like they do not have to apply for the job.

Children are required by law to attend school. This law is enforceable by the police at gun-point if necessary (I am being extreme to make the point). Sure they can home-school or go to a private school but the vast majority of our children go to public school. For many families public school is the only practical option.

The reason the fourth amendment was added was to guarantee the government will not violate our rights as individuals. I am concerned about the precedent that is being set here. If the government is allowed to drug test children without probable cause what is to stop them from changing the test to something we do not agree with? What if they decide to psychologically test our children to make sure they are appropriately tolerant of the h*mos*xual lifestyle?

"That would never happen!" you say? Check out this excerpt from the Family Research Council:

[Isaiah Washington] checked into an inpatient treatment facility to "undergo intensive counseling about his anti-g[*]y feelings." In America, this liberal brainwashing could easily become a norm should the first step of passing radical "hate crimes" legislation be approved by Congress.

Now this is liberal Hollywood but there is a strong national agenda for this type of action. They would love for there to be tolerance education and random testing of our children. If they fail the test they can continue in their extracurricular activities if they agree to go to intensive counseling.

Shouldn't the fourth amendment protect us from this type of action? While drugs are a huge problem and random testing could help curb this problem, I feel it opens a door for government intrusion into our lives.

Well this should be my last rant on this soap-box. While I do feel strongly about this as a constitutional issue, the constitution is not Scripture. Psalm 115:3 says, "Our God is in the heavens, and he does as he wishes." There are many times God uses nations (governments) to bring correction to His people. Our duty is to pray that God will grant His wisdom to the School Board and those around them. Amen!

Our Schools?

Today was the School Board meeting where they allowed the public to express ideas on two issues: random drug testing and abstinence based health education.

First off, I am 100% in support of teaching abstinence in our schools. In fact there were no individuals that spoke in opposition of it. And there was some very lively argument. This, of course, does not mean that the school board will implement it but hopefully it is a step in the right direction.

As for random drug testing, I do not think it is the right thing to do in our public schools. There is no denying that drugs are a major problem but having this problem does not make this "solution" right. I am not going to write all day on this but I want to give a brief defense of my position. -- BTW I spoke out against it at the meeting and was very inarticulate :-(. Most of my points were well presented by another gentleman, so I felt okay after feeling like I had bombed.

Basically I oppose random drug testing because I feel it violates the rights we are guaranteed by this:

The Fourth Amendment to the United Stated Constitution

The right of the people to be secure in their persons, houses, papers, and
effects, against unreasonable searches and seizures, shall not be violated, and
no Warrants shall issue, but upon probable cause, supported by Oath or
affirmation, and particularly describing the place to be searched, and the
persons or things to be seized.

If the school can produce "probable cause, supported by Oath or affirmation, and particularly describing the place to be searched, and the persons or things to be seized" and a Warrant issued by a judge, then I think they can drug test. If not, then they may not.

Think about it this way, would you want random drug tests to extend to anyone in the city? How about random searches of the closets in anyone's house to check for drug paraphernalia? I think that most would say those infringe on our rights "to be secure in [our] persons, houses, papers, and effects". How then can we say that drug testing, without "probable cause" is okay?

According to the Supreme Court random drug testing is permissible for any student involved in any extracurricular activity or who has a personal parking permit. To this I would say that the Supreme Court is wrong. They have made other decisions that I also think are flat out wrong (you can probably guess what I am referring to). If our Legislature or Executive would rise up and challenge the Court this decision could be reversed. Also, why then is it not permissible for all students? Do you have more rights if you do not participate in anything?

I know we need to find a way to restrain drug use in our schools but I do not think that trampling on constitutional rights is the way to go.

SNOW

Well, this morning we have about a foot of snow and drifts of three to four feet all around the house. I will be working from home today. :-)

It is even colder!

In an earlier post I showed you a picture of the ice stalagmite that had formed under the exaust drain from our furnace. Here is that pic and a few more I have taken over the last few days.

Sunday, February 4th



Thursday night, February 8th



Today, Tuesday, February 13th

Havin' fun at work

Yesterday I had a big meeting to present my proposals for a complete revamping of our main software application. I have been supporting the legacy app for the last three years and now I have the opportunity to implement some major overhauls. I was somewhat nervous because I halfway expected to be told to not take such a large bite. But the presentation went well and my boss and the rest of the team agreed with my design and I have been given approval to move forward. Now I am really excited about my job for the next six months or so. I admit I am a geek! :-)

Thank You God for Your favor!!!

My... how things change

I grew up in a nice sized AG church in Santa Fe, NM. I heard some really good teaching on prophecy and the end times and I loved it all. I have always been fascinated with all the weirdness in the book of Revelation and Daniel. But I was given and accepted the idea that these prophecies were all for the distant future.

Over the last 15 years or so I have been introduced to some different thinking on these matters. For Christmas this year I got a 21 CD teaching set from Gary Demar and American Vision. I finished listening to those a couple of weeks back. Over the last few days I have gone through Revelation and Daniel again. In fact on my drive to and from work this week I listened to Revelation once, Malachi once and Daniel four times.

I really focused on Daniel because all the strange imagery intrigued me and I think I see a pattern in the prophetic visions that Daniel has. It seems to me that the four visions in Daniel all speak of the same events in history and they all point to Christ's first coming and the destruction of Jerusalem.

The four visions are as follows:

1. Nebuchadnezzar's dream about the statue (Daniel 2)
2. Daniel's vision of four beasts (Daniel 7)
3. Daniel's vision of a ram and a goat (Daniel 8)
4. Daniel's vision of a man (Daniel 10-12)

I see in chapter 2 where Nebuchadnezzar has the dream of the statue, the statue has five parts that represent four kingdoms, a gold head, silver chest and arms, belly and thighs of bronze, and its legs were iron. There were also feet and toes made of a mixture of iron and clay. At the end of verse 38 Daniel tells Nebuchadnezzar, "You are the head of gold," so we know the first of these kingdoms is Babylon. So then the silver represents the Medes and Persians. The bronze represents the Greek empire, and the iron represents the Roman empire. The feet of clay and iron represent the mixture of Greek and Roman empires. It specifically mentions the toes which may be this fourth kingdom splitting under ten kings.

In chapter 7 it explains that the four beasts represent, again, four kingdoms and then ten kingdoms come from the fourth kingdom.

In chapter 8 it explains that the the two-horned ram is the kingdom of Media and Persia. The one horned goat is the kingdom of Greece.

In chapter 11 it again talks of the kings of Persia and Greece.

Can you see how I think there is a pattern in these? Much of the language and situations between the different visions is similar and it almost seems like he is getting a little more detail for the same events with each vision.

The other idea that helps me think in this direction is that the phrases that deal with "the end" or "the end of time" are speaking of the end of the old covenant and not the end of history. The visions were prophetic for Daniel and spoke of future events from his time but they are historical events from my time.

I do not understand it all yet and I can surely be wrong on some of it but this view of Daniel sure makes a lot more sense to me than what I grew up with. Let me know your thoughts and if you can recommend any resources (especially audio) :-).

It is cold!

Yesterday and today it has been in the single digits here. This morning when I got up it was -1. Brrrr! When we left for church we noticied that a stalagmite had formed beside our house. I took this picture when we got home. The pipe in the wall is the exaust vent from our new furnace. It has been running quite a bit the last few days.

HEY!!! (from downstairs)

OK, so I am upstairs, blogging of course, when from downstairs I hear HEY!!! Abby is tucked into a blanket on the couch watching the Velveteen Rabbit. She hates to get up from this spot so if she needs anything she yells for mommy or me.

I go downstairs to see what her-majesty needs, and what do I find? A tiny, three-year-old finger pointing up at me with a great big booger on the end of it. I guess she found it in her nose while watching her video. I got a tissue for her and all was right again in Abby's kingdom.

Fancy

My wife (shaggabear) and Abby have spent the last several days making Abby's room Fancy! It has a lot to do with beads and feathers and flowers and ribbons. Not my cup of tea. I got to help out with installing curtain harware and hooks to hang things on. I also replaced the door nob with a more fancy glass one that shaggabear picked up at a garage sale.

Anyway, after they got it all done today I must say it is really pretty. Abby has brought a lot of fun into our house. I am sure shaggabear will have all the fancy pictures on here blog soon for you to check out.

What is the kingdom of God to you?

In Matthew 13 Jesus gives several example stories of what the Kingdom of God is like. Verses 44-46 say,

44"The kingdom of heaven is like treasure hidden in a field. When a man found it, he hid it again, and then in his joy went and sold all he had and bought that field.

45"Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a merchant looking for fine pearls. 46When he found one of great value, he went away and sold everything he had and bought it.

The reality of the kingdom of Good is often hidden from us. I know it has great value but I am just not exactly sure how to bring the Kingdom near. These verses talk of selling all I have to buy It. Am I willing to do that? What does that mean?

But it is also more than just an individual thing. It has to do with the whole of creation. Christ is sitting at the right hand of God waiting for his enemies to be made his footstool. (PS 110:1, Luke 20:43, Acts 2:35, Heb. 10:13) Matt. 11:12 says "the kingdom of heaven has been forcefully advancing, and forceful men lay hold of it." That definitely speaks of more than just the individual submitting to the kingdom.

Back to Matthew 13. Jesus gives another picture of the kingdom right after the treasure in a field and the pearl of great value. Verses 47-50 say,

47"Once again, the kingdom of heaven is like a net that was let down into the lake and caught all kinds of fish. 48When it was full, the fishermen pulled it up on the shore. Then they sat down and collected the good fish in baskets, but threw the bad away. 49This is how it will be at the end of the age. The angels will come and separate the wicked from the righteous 50and throw them into the fiery furnace, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.

The picture given here is not a personal one but one of all humanity being separated between wicked and righteous. I have been meditating on the kingdom of God for a week or so. So many thoughts and not enough time to blog!!!

Will anyone read our Church Brochure?

We had our first meeting in our new building today. We had a brunch. About once a quarter we host a community worship and intercession night, called "Refresh," at a local auditorium. On the Sunday after Refresh we meet at 11:00 AM to allow extra rest, and we have a brunch.

One day as we were talking about the new location I mentioned that I would like us write up a brochure. Now I have the task of doing exactly that! :-) So I started doing some research... you know... I typed "church brochure" in my Google toolbar. I was immediately attracted to an entry with the title: "No One Reads Your Church Brochure." It is on a blog site called "Church Marketing Sucks." Wow! What a title for a site. I guess it gets the point across, doesn't it?

So, I read through that post and a few others that I found. Now I am struggling to write something that will be worth the paper it is on. I think this first version will be more evangelistic in nature. I want to raise awareness in the neighborhood and stir some interest in our church. There are so many thoughts and ideas. What to leave in? What to leave out? I know it will come together, eventually. :-)

Taxes have begun

We started working on our taxes today. We think we will be getting a return so we want to get it done soon! If we were going to pay we would file on April 15th. :-)

Last year we used TurboTax Online and it worked really well. This year we are using it again and we even get a discount through my work.

At one point ShaggaBear had to stand behind me and rub my neck and tell me, "it's okay to breath." I guess I get a little frustrated with the process. It does not always work how I expect it to. TurboTax was also showing a nasty red number at that point that we were going to have to pay. Now it is looking much better and the number is back in the black. We should get the rest of our documents in the next week and then we can finish it up.

Morning in Chicago

I woke up about 5:30 AM today. About half an hour before I intended to. I slept pretty good and I feel good and I'm ready to go.

I went downstairs to have breakfast. They had a pretty good spread. I got scrambled eggs, sausage, and toast, one of my normal breakfasts. I am wearing my new, favorite, blue, dress shirt (is that enough adjectives?). Now I bet you can guess what happened next! I cut into the sausage patty with my lovely, plastic fork and it squirted on me! Yuk!!!! Now I have four little, round spots on my blue shirt. They look like water spots but they are not water so they will not go away. What is a guy to do??? Oh well, it is not the end of the world and I am sure no one will really care. :-)

I will be working this morning and then we have meetings from noon to 4:00 PM. Then I get on the plane at 7:00 PM and get to go home. Yea!!!

Chicago

Well, today I am in Chicago. One of my companies largest clients is headquartered here. We have meetings today and tomorrow so I have to spend the night at a hotel. :-( The only thing I really enjoy about traveling for business is getting to eat out. I love to eat out!

The meeting went well today and I am now at the hotel (free high-speed internet provided). As I was checking in I noticed there was a workout room with an elliptical machine. My brother-in-law told me that he really likes using an elliptical machine and ever since then I have been wanting to try one out. So I went down in my white shirt and dress pants and tried it out for a few minutes. It was a little more difficult than I expected it to be but I think that I could really enjoy using one. They sell them now at ALDI you know. :-)

My wife (ShaggaBear) has been "walking-away-the-pounds" with her new exercise video. It is the new year and like a lot of others we are trying to exercise more. I just pray that we will find a way to make it consistent.

I really miss ShaggaBear and Abby when I am gone from home. Check out her blog to see some great pictures! I have been blessed to not travel much. Hopefully it will not be too often in the future.

Good night.

Brown-Baggin-It

It has been 12 years since I got married and 10 years since I finished college. For the majority of that time I have been taking my lunch with me to work. I estimate I have saved around $1,200 a year by brown-baggin-it. Over 12 years that is about $14,000! That's a good used car!

Anyway, this morning I was tired and I was not thinking well. I forgot to pack my lunch. It was not until I got to work that I realized it. As I was walking to the door of my office I said a quick prayer letting God know that I had forgot my lunch and I was going to need His provision. In the back of my mind I knew that it was not the end of the world. I got paid today so we have money in the bank. I might even have a coupon for McDonalds, Yippy!

By noon I had forgotten my prayer and was getting hungry. The two other IT guys I work with were going out for their lunch, like they do every day ($$$!), and I asked where they were going and if I could tag along. They were heading to one of the local grocery stores to hit the deli. That really did not thrill me so I sent an IM to my boss to see if he had any plans for lunch. He said he was going to Panera Bread with a couple of others from the office. He invited me and I thought that sounded better so I went with them. Is that tacky or what!

As we were getting into the car my boss said, "I'll get lunch, since I owe you anyway". I thought for a minute and then remembered what he was talking about. A few weeks back I mentioned to my boss that I was looking up the dealer of our office security system so that I could get some upgrades. He made a passing comment that if I found them he would buy me lunch. He and another IT Manager had searched for them in vain. I found them the next day and promptly told him that I like Mexican food :-).

Then I remembered my prayer. All I can say is that God is faithful and He can provide in very unusual ways. Over the last several months I have really come to believe that nothing happens outside of Gods plans for our lives.

New Building

Today is our last Sunday at the School building we have been meeting in. After Celebration today we will all be packing up our chairs and equipment and moving down the road to our new location. I am excited about this move. The new location has a little more room and I think it will be a really nice place to meet.