Back At It Again

Well the time has come to jump back in the real estate game. I have reduced my hours at Sam's club to part time which will give me ample time to see what I can do with my license. I will be working with the Century 21 "Greater Lanco" office here in Idaho Falls. If you are looking to buy or sell or know somebody who is, let me know. I will let you all know more in the future.

--> Read more...

Larry Norman 1947-2008

Larry Norman, one of the pioneers of Jesus music in the 1970's passed away this week. He will be remembered as one who was too Christian for the secular industry and way too political for the Christian music scene.

I remember when a tribute album came out of Larry Norman songs in 1995. The record company issued as a tribute to the songs of Larry Norman and not a tribute to him. He was way too contraversial and people did not like the fact that he made people uncomfortable.

--> Read more...

Questioning God

Is it wrong to question the existence of God? Is it wrong to wonder if our prayers are actually heard by someone or something?

I have fairly rock solid faith, but I would be lying to you if I said that I never doubt. It seems that since I have been a christian for almost twenty years, I would not have these these kind of questions and doubts. But that's simply not true.

I find consolation in John the Baptist doubting whether or not Jesus was the Christ. here is this man who had preached radical repentance to the masses. He had the humbling privilege of baptising his cousin and witnessing the Holy Spirit coming down in the form of a dove. He also heard the voice of God saying that Jesus was his son in whom he was well pleased. But yet, after all this, he sat in prison awaiting his impending doom wondering if he had been right.

I guess if this man had doubts, I shouldn't feel so guilty for having my misgivings and doubts about whether all this is for not.

--> Read more...

North Korea "Worst place to be a Christian"

According to Christian Today North Korea is the worst place to be a Christian for the 6th year running. North Korea has a horrible human rights record that has been prevelent since Kim Il Sung took over 5 decades ago.

--> Read more...

Mensa Words

The Washington Post's Mensa Invitational once again asked readers to take any word from the dictionary, alter it by adding, subtracting, or changing one letter, and supply a new definition.



Here are this year's winners. Read them carefully. Each is an artificial word with only one letter altered to form a real word. Some are terrifically innovative:



1. Intaxication: Euphoria at getting a tax refund, which lasts until you realize it was your money to start with.

2. Reintarnation : Coming back to life as a hillbilly.

3. Bozone (n.): The substance surrounding stupid people that stops bright ideas from penetrating. The bozone layer, unfortunately, shows little sign of breaking down in the near future.

4. Cashtration (n.): The act of buying a house, which renders the subject financially impotent for an indefinite period.

5. Giraffiti: Vandalism spray-painted very, very high.

6. Sarchasm: The gulf between the author of sarcastic wit and the person who doesn't get it.

7. Inoculatte: To take coffee intravenously when you are running late.

8. Hipatitis: Terminal coolness.

9. Osteopornosis: A degenerate disease. (This one got extra credit.)

10. Karmageddon: It's like, when everybody is sending off all these really bad vibes, right? And then, like, the Earth explodes and it's, like, a serious bummer.

11. Decafalon (n.): The gruelling event of getting through the day consuming only things that are good for you.

12. Glibido: All talk and no action.

13. Dopeler effect: The tendency of stupid ideas to seem smarter when they come at you rapidly.

14. Arachnoleptic fit (n.): The frantic dance performed just after you've accidentally walked through a spider web.

15. Beelzebug (n.): Satan in the form of a mosquito, that gets into your bedroom at three in the morning and cannot be cast out.

16. Caterpallor (n.): The color you turn after finding half a worm in the fruit you're eating.

And the #1 pick:

17. Ignoranus: A person who's both stupid and an a**hole.

--> Read more...

Prince Caspian!

--> Read more...

Heath Ledger Dead

3:45 pm

Heath Ledger found dead in a New York Apartment of an apparent drug overdose. Sad waste of a 28 year old life

--> Read more...

Violence Against Christians in India

Christian Today is reporting that there has been tremendous violence against Christians in the Indian state of Orissa. More than 95 churches have been vandalized and over 750 homes belonging to Christians have burned to the ground.

Officials in India are saying this is the worst violence ever to occur since records were kept. The violence was instigated by extreme fundamentalist Hindus.

--> Read more...

Too Tired

It's amazing how your brain processes things when it is sleep deprived. I can't seem to be able to have a coherent thought at all. It is all choppy and when there is a word that I want, I can never think of it. Or I will try to say a certain word and something different altogether comes out.

I am hoping that this will not go much longer. I don't know if I can physically take much more.

--> Read more...

Playoffs

Seahawks kicked some major bahooey. But next week they face the Packers. I am really nervous that it will end up as it did last time they faced each other. I really like the Seahawks and would not be disappointed if they win, but it would be really awesome to see Favre in the Superbowl again.

--> Read more...

Persecution

After some protests from Christians in India for reasons that I didn't quite understand, 7 Christian teenage Girls have been reported missing. The are presumed murdered by local Hindu radicals.

--> Read more...

Iowa Caucus

Well the Iowa Caucus is the week in Iowa of all places. This marks the beginning of the 2008 election season in earnest. I have been following the campaigns on a very superficial level, in some ways protesting that fact that things got started so early this time around. It seems as if President Bush had barely taken office for his second term and the candidates were off and running. RIDICULOUS.

So will it be a democrat or a republican who will inherit the White House this time around? My gut feeling is that it will be a democrat, although the winds of change can blow at a moments notice.

This election is very important to the future direction of this country. It is always important, yes. But for the first time since the terrorist attacks of 9/11, we will have a new person in the
White House, with new ideals and new goals for the future. Our future safety relies on picking the right person for the job.

The unfortunate dilemma in my opinion, lies in the fact that I don't think there is a clear cut good choice for 2008. Every one has some small strong points, but nobody jumps off the page with gleaming credentials. Giuliani might be strong on defense as well as Thompson, but Thompson is an actor and the G man has horrible morals. Frankly nobody on the Democrats side will even begin to support our military.

So who do we vote for as president from a Christian perspective? Conservative Evangelicals would have you believe that it is a sin to vote for somebody that does not have an "R" after their name. Those people are dangerous and full of bahooey. We need to vote our conscience and vote American.

Any comments on my ramblings, please let me know.

--> Read more...

Quite a Year (Aren't They All)

The year started out innocently enough. I had purchased some tickets and planned a vacation for Kim and I. I had decided to take a trip to Disneyland and wanted to do something special for our tenth anniversary. This trip would be our first vacation since we married in 1997. During the first few months of the year, my first idea was to quite my job in May to become a full time real estate agent. I put my resignation in at work and began to prepare to become a full commission professional.



In the meantime, Kimberly graduated with a degree in Business Administration from Northwest Nazarene University. She managed to graduate Magna Cum Laude while working the night shift at Sam's Club and raising a family during the day. She was amazing in this achievement and as always, blows my mind everyday.



In the spring, Kimberly found out that her sister was battling cancer and went headed over to Idaho Falls to see her for a few days. During the course of her visit, she began to feel that perhaps she would be able to get a job over in Eastern Idaho.



So after some soul searching I asked her if this is what she really wanted. We agreed that the move would happen and we jumped head on into making it a reality.



We went on our vacation and had a wonderful time. The kids stayed with the relatives in Eastern Idaho whilst mom and dad tromps around California. I'll write more about that later.



We came back from our vacation and began to get our house ready for sale. In July Kim moved to Idaho Falls and continued to look for a job that so far had eluded her. She transferred her job from Sam's in Nampa to Idaho Falls.



In September the house was ready to be put on the market. By the end of August I had moved to Idaho Falls and found a job at Sam's as well. it wasn't exactly how we would have liked it, but it was what had to be done in the interim.

We enrolled our two oldest kids in Idaho Virtual Academy. The burden mostly fell on me to teach the kids. This has been incredibly difficult to work full time at night teach the two oldest ones during the day and make sure the two youngest don't completely destroy the small apartment house we are living in.

In October, the house was sold and we settled for much less than we originally had asked for.

Finally in December, Kimberly was given a chance at Sofa Mart as an assistant manager trainee. She has to open herself up to transfer, so the likely hood of us staying in Idaho Falls for very long is rather slim. Kim is scared to death because of the sales nature of the job. But I know her well and know that once she gets her feet wet, she will jump in all the way. Kim never starts something without giving it her best. She will not only do well, she will succeed.

The future is open and full of mystery. The one thing that we have to learn to rely on is that God has us exactly where he wants us. He likes it when we have nothing left to rely on but him. I want to jump in and cling to that scarlet thread which is God's grace. I am tired of trying and wanting to do things on my own.

My prayer for 2008 is to become more sensitive to God's voice. To become reliant on him and his sustenance.

--> Read more...

Welcome

Here is the first post to my first blog. I am one who will probably not write very much but will nonetheless have something to say on occasion. Please feel free to read and respond to any of my musings on here.

--> Read more...