Prairie Home Compost

Sox Home Opener

2011-04-07T06:26:00.000-05:00

Well, the beloved White Sox are 3-2 coming into their home opener today and look to have a great lineup, decent starting pitching and a bullpen that on paper looks good though hasn't shown up in week one. Lets hope as temps warm the bats stay hot, the starters stay healthy and bullpen starts to perform.

Heat

2010-08-13T20:20:00.000-05:00

Heat Indexes in the triple digits makes for adjusting outdoor activities. The absolute worst is getting into your car at the end of the work day as the greenhouse effect in the vehicle can make it down right oven like inside. I've heard of some new cars that have solar powered fans on the roof that harness that sun and use it to fan out all that hot air. OK, great idea. But wait, why not take this a step further. Harness all that greenhouse effect heat into energy that can actually run my car. Make it run on all that hot air (and on any that I might add once I get in...especially after a Taco Bell run).

Anyhow, I look forward to fall's approach and cooler days and evenings, with window's open and air fresh (and not frigid as that bought air is).

Ka-Bob-u-lated

2010-07-27T23:54:00.000-05:00

Does everything taste better when its grilled on a skewer? I'm not sure but I'm becoming a ka-bob everything fan. Next, I might try kid-ka-bobs with pieces of hotdog mixed with meatballs and chicken nuggets (and maybe broccoli for Trevor). It's all good.

The Game

2010-07-25T21:59:00.000-05:00

Times change...constantly. Same is true of baseball. Andre "The Hawk" Dawson became a Hall-of-Famer this weekend and correctly pointed out that the game in not broke. A few individuals have sullied their reputations and hurt the game, but they can't break it, according to Dawson and I agree. I still love the game. I love it on radio--it is still the best sport to listen to on radio--and I love it from independent league to MLB to college world series, even little league. It's not broken. The DH is here to stay and will be making its way to the NL if they ever seek to be competitive again. Interleague play has been a great change bringing regional rivalry games plus some great matchups, whilst also proving just how much superior the AL is to the NL. Stats have even helped develop value in players, such as Holds, a great stat (for fantasy leagues and regular fans) puts a value on that 7th and 8th inning bullpen guy just as the Save gave value to notion of a "Closer" in the 1970s. Sabremetrics has brought new insight into how to evaluate players and Fantasy leagues have replaced Baseball cards as the primary means of following players on teams out of your market. I like where the game is now, and I see a bright future ahead.

All-Star Game

2010-07-13T23:45:00.000-05:00

Well, the Class-AAAA NL'ers finally defeated the true Major Leaguers after a bazillion tries (and one tie) and the result truly reflected that 2010 seems to be a year of the pitcher. Let's see if the White Sox can stay white hot after the break.

An all new heap

2010-07-12T18:27:00.000-05:00

Posting on here has been sporadic to non-existent for over a year now. Might as well try and pile some new scraps on this old heap. Consider this another new beginning right here from the heart of the Prairie state.

Being the Boss is Boring

2009-11-30T18:38:00.000-06:00

Obviously, based on the lack of posts here, I don't have much time for this anymore. But when my boys say the wildest things, I guess this is as good a place as any to put it so I'll try and blog on that for awhile and see where it goes. I'll subject these all "Things Kids Say," and here's the one that got this going again.

My two older sons, 6 and 5, were playing "Penguins of Madagascar" and the younger told the older one that he, meaning the older one, should be the "boss." The older one immediately rejected the opportunity to be the "boss" by saying:

"I don't want to be the boss. Being the boss is boring!"

In a culture and time that stresses the need to achieve greatness, be the best, be the top dog, I find it refreshing that he came up with this. Being the boss IS boring from a certain perspective. Often times the boss is stuck telling others what to do and they are the ones who actually get to go and do them! Always a great deal more fun being in the midst of the action, unless of course it involves cleaning out port-a-potty's or something like that I suppose.

Raptors Are So Cool!

2009-06-16T22:44:00.002-05:00

As part of our library Children's department's Summer Reading Program, READ ON THE WILD SIDE, they had a live Raptor program tonight. My two oldest sons enjoyed it immensely, though the younger of the two had to bail out half way through (attention span couldn't hang in for the full hour + of the program) and joined his mom and baby brother out in the library to read while our oldest stayed for the whole show. We saw a live Red Tail Hawk, Peregrine Falcon, Turkey Vulture, and Barn Owl...including the Owl swallowing a dead mouse whole. Wow. Great program and it was so awesome to get to see my favorite animals, Raptors, up close and personal like that AND especially to see my sons enjoy it too (though they are both more looking forward to the snake show next month).

Standing by the Lake of Gennesaret

2009-06-10T07:24:00.002-05:00

Standing by the Lake of Gennesaret,
He handed me a man-sized landing net,
“Leave everything and follow me,”
A fisher of men, He’s called me to be.

Standing by the Lake of Gennesaret,
Perhaps you know it by its sobriquet,
By the Sea of Galilee He stood,
Calling me to a greater good.

Sitting on the Mount of Olives,
He warned me of how a follower lives,
Deceivers and persecutors will attack,
My steadfast faith they’ll try to crack.

Sitting on the Mount of Olives,
The one who by grace forgives,
Told me He would come again,
The Son will wax, as the sun will wane.

At Golgotha, dying on the cross,
He took on our debts, paid all the costs,
“Father, forgive them,” for all to hear,
And with penalty paid, our debt was cleared.

At Golgotha, dying on the cross,
We gained eternity, in what seemed loss,
“It is finished,” and covenant was sealed,
By grace, through faith, we are eternally healed.

In the vicinity of Bethany, He ascended,
But this did not mean the story ended,
For soon after the Holy Spirit came,
So that we, our love of God, could proclaim.

In the vicinity of Bethany, He ascended,
But He shall return, even more splendid,
And in that Judgment Day’s inspection,
By grace, through faith, our Resurrection!

For God so loves the world He created,
And keeps the promises that He’s stated,
By grace, through faith, we are saved,
With Jesus’ blood, our road to eternity was paved

For God so loves the world He created,
And through His Son we were conjugated,
After a long separation due to our sins,
By grace, through faith, eternity together begins!

Playground, Grill, & Camping

2009-04-27T06:17:00.000-05:00

Wow what a beautiful weekend. We tried out the new Project Playground at the zoo yesterday after church and WOW is the perfect word to describe it. Lots for the boys to do and I could see them well from just about any vantage point no matter where they went (something the old playground lacked). They had a ball and it looks as though on Sunday's this summer we'll be regulars there after church with a picnic lunch.

Once we got home, got the grill out and cleaned up and tried out my new charcoal chimney (one match lights the newspaper and no need for lighter fluid). Worked great so we enjoyed the first burgers/dogs outside on the deck last night as well. Of course this was after the boys spent most of the afternoon digging in the dirt under the deck looking for buried treasure. Man were they dirty! Oh well. Bath before supper and they ate their dogs and followed up with a few roasted marshmallows over the remnant coals. What a beautiful weekend God blessed us with!

Now we're in gear up mode for our annual Dads & Kids camping trip (our 4th annual) which should see us break through the 100 attendees mark easily. We'll be at a new site to accommodate the big group. Hopefully God again blesses us with nice weather.

Stone Him!

2009-04-15T06:56:00.000-05:00

Well, the 2009 Baseball season is underway and already I miss last year. I don't get any of the sports channels so I usually only get to watch one game a weekend when its on national TV but love to listen to the games on the radio. Last year, my beloved White Sox had a great tandem of radio announcers with Ed Farmer & Steve Stone, two former Sox pitchers and both entertaining and informative. This year, Stone has switched places with Sox TV announcer, Darrin "DJ" Jackson and the broadcasts are about as exciting as when DJ was on TV (read: BORING!) Oh how I wish I could "Stone" him (as in make him a better announcer like Steve Stone)

Fidrych, Frampton & the Freedom Train

2009-04-13T11:53:00.002-05:00

I just learned that Mark Fidrych has died in an accident on his farm. Sad news. Prayers go out for peace and comfort to his many family & friends who mourn his loss today. I never knew Mark the man, the person, the human being. I did know the "The Bird," the iconic ball player who along with Peter Frampton (and his '76 release Frampton Live) and the Bi-Centennial America's Freedom Train, became forever etched in my memory as defining artifacts of 1976. Oh yes, a peanut farmer running for President is up there too, but it was the year of "The Bird" that truly made me, a 9 year old boy, fall in love with America's game as America celebrated its 200th birthday. "Baby, I DID love your way" on the mound and you gave all of us fans, both young and old, a special summer of joy. Thanks for the memories Mark, I'll cherish them.

Sweet Baby Trey

2009-04-03T19:57:00.002-05:00

Our newborn is 4 weeks old tonight. He spent this Thursday & Friday in St.Louis at Children's Hospital getting a shunt to relieve a hydrocephele situation in his head and came home this afternoon. He is doing very well for having just had neurosurgery yesterday. God is good, all the time! What a great place Children's Hospital is and we are very thankful for all the prayers and well wishes we've received this week. Hopefully, this shunt will resolve the issue long-term for our little boy.

World Baseball Classic

2009-03-23T06:27:00.002-05:00

I see from this morning's paper that it will be Japan vs. South Korea in the World Baseball Classic. But honestly, I haven't cared a bit. I caught a few innings of a Netherlands/DR game at the hospital 2 weeks ago while my wife and I were waiting for the baby to be brought back to the room after some tests and that was it.

WBC = one big giant yawn from this baseball fan.

Honestly, the real World Baseball Classic is in October. Its called the MLB post-season and culminates in the WORLD Series. The best players from around the globe are represented...they make up the rosters of the teams that play. Why try to create a spring marketing tournament where players can get injured playing for NOTHING. It is time MLB calls this fiasco off. Let spring training be spring training and let April bring us "Play Ball!" and summer bring us to exciting afternoon and evening games and October bring us another fall classic.

Life-long Readers

2009-03-19T06:25:00.002-05:00

My oldest son and embarked on a journey a couple of weeks ago. Instead of the usual nightly reading of a books that were short, wherein we could read 3-4 entire books each night, he opted to start a much longer chapter book, Peter Pan by J.M. Barrie, and so each night we would read a chapter or two until last night when we finally finished the book. The challenge for him was to remember where the story left off and pick it up again the next night, sometimes with major cliff-hangers. He thoroughly enjoyed the experience (and of course, I thoroughly enjoyed sharing a love of books with my son). Our middle son would join in too on several nights, though he's not quite ready for stories that don't end right away. So after we would finish reading a part of the Peter Pan, I would usually read a short book or two with him as well.
Last night my oldest was so thrilled to have actually finished the book that he immediately wanted to start another long one. He dashed off to his room and retrieved another classic from his bookshelf, this time Sir Walter Scott's Ivanhoe. We embark on our journey to 12th century England tonight!

Upon a Porch

2009-03-13T20:21:00.000-05:00

An aging bulb flickers, then lights,
As it does on many summer nights,
Several moths come in to sight,
Attracted to the weak porch light.

The rhythm of a metallic creak,
Accompanied by occasional squeak,
Provided by the porch swing chain,
As it swings with nary a strain.

Forward, back, and forward again,
The swing returns to where it has been,
As cicadas buzz, and bull frogs croak,
A breeze rustles branches of a nearby oak.

Evening cool gentles the scene,
Darkness falls upon the green,
The porch is now the perfect nook,
Time again to crack open the book.

March Madness

2009-03-08T22:45:00.002-05:00

Congrats to the UNI Panthers! My alma mater is back in the big dance this year! Go Panthers. Now we have to wait a whole week until they release the brackets to see which team they'll have a shot a upsetting in round one!

My Three Sons

2009-03-07T09:25:00.002-06:00

Call me Fred MacMurray...I've got three sons. As of 6:53PM Friday, our third son, Trey, and what better date of birth for third child, named TREY, to be born on 03/06/09! GOD IS GREAT! Mother and son both doing fine.

I Remember This!

2009-02-14T23:14:00.003-06:00

With the advent of a dedicated education hour on Sunday's at my church (beginning with 2009), I've been teaching on Sunday mornings during that time and my boys have then gone to Sunday school while I teach. We go to Saturday evening service and there is Sunday school during the worship on Saturday's which they had always gone to but we've tried starting to get my soon to be 6 year old to stay in worship the whole time and then go to Sunday school during the education hour on Sundays. We've had a mixture of success and failures in the few weeks we've tried.

Tonight, the service was built around 1 John 2: 18-29 (warning about antichrists) using the Yellow Light as a symbol. In front of the church was a large traffic signal with the yellow light illuminated and so, though my son had insisted on the way to church he didn't want to stay in worship with me, once he saw that, he said he wanted to find out more about it.

He really did pay attention to the sermon and its message connections to traffic lights. I was really surprised at how well he did and seeing a 5year old connect with the message of the sermon...great stuff. Before that though, he had a break through moment as we recited the Apostle's Creed as a congregation (something we don't do very often on Saturday nights due to the contemporary nature of that service). As we said the words, my son looked up at me and said:

"DAD! I REMEMBER THIS!" and he listened with mouth agape, as in awe and wonder over being connected to what was going on in worship. Behold the power of liturgy! As stated in 2 Timothy 13 (NKJV):"Hold fast the pattern of sound words which you have heard from me, in faith and love which are in Christ Jesus" There's something to be said about the power of liturgy in reaching even a child of the 21st century.

PHC ~ The Second Year

2009-02-01T11:46:00.002-06:00

Ok, I took a few weeks off after concluding the first complete year of this blog to refresh, renew, and reexamine. When I started this, I established a calendar rotation to provide structure and force me to think and work on things that I needed to work on. So I set out the first year with Sundays dedicated to devotion to Our Lord and Savior, Mondays to my beloved wife and our relationship, Tuesdays to my wonderful children and our relationships, Wednesdays to my family of believers, the Body of Christ, and Thursdays to my role as a Man in God's plan. Fridays I kept it light with some wit and/or poetry and Saturdays I took the day off. This year I think I will remove a bit of the structure, and though I'll often post a devotion on a Sunday or talk about my beautiful wife on a Monday, I won't be limiting myself by the day of the week but rather share whats on my heart and mind as it comes up. This is more a reflection on growth in the last year, and I do think the structure was useful and necessary to get me to this point. Now I'm better prepared to take it from here. I therefore might miss a day or two, but then return with three or four posts on a day. Besides...a heap shouldn't really be so rigid and structured now should it?

Terrible Two's

2009-01-09T21:30:00.001-06:00

Dedicated to a friend who is enjoying his last day with his 1 year old today

The two's, the two's, the terrible two's
Start singing the blues, cause daddy will lose
You can turn the screws, and try new shampoos,
But the two will excuse, then accuse, and refuse,
Take the bad news, and the occasional bruise,
Child abuse?, a good parent eschews,
Just pay your dues, and enjoy the cruise,
Perhaps you can use, my fatherly ruse,
When trouble brews…pretend to snooze,
And let mommy take care of the trouble!

Year Two of PHC begins

2009-01-08T09:33:00.000-06:00

Well, year two begins today as it was a year ago today I started this blog. How appropriate it falls on Thursday, the day I focus on manhood as it was very much a part of the manhood plan I created a year ago as part of our Men's Fraternity first year class to achieve an authentic Christian manhood to focus this blog on being a better man, husband, father, and brother-in-Christ. I've obviously still a long way to go, every day presents new challenges on the journey and I hope again to share some of the ups and downs of that journey here each day.

First Year - Final Post

2009-01-07T20:24:00.002-06:00

Wow...

I started this blog on January 8th, 2008 and admit, it was not the first time I started a blog (more like the 3rd or 4th time). However, this was the first time I've stuck with it. First Day's post There's been a few readers along the way and I appreciate the sporadic few comments I've received, but I look forward to another year throwing more on the heap.

wii mania II

2009-01-06T06:38:00.002-06:00

My oldest son had a ball playing a Cars racing and driving game on his aunt & uncle's wii over Christmas. They had the steering wheel holder for the wand so he could sit and really drive his car around town (thankfully damage didn't effect play as he smashed into everything!) It was fun to see him sit on the floor and throw his whole body into trying to make a sharp turn. His birthday is in April...so maybe my sister--my bride won't have to wait too long for a wii! Though she may not get a chance to play it until after the boys go to bed at night.

wii mania

2009-01-05T22:26:00.002-06:00

My sister--my bride got her first taste of wii entertainment during our visit to my parents over Christmas. My little sister and her husband got one and were sharing it with the rest of us and both my older son and my wife were quite smitten with the non-sedentary video game. She wants one bad now (mainly wants to bowl) and when our friends in town got one for Christmas as well...it added to her passion for her very own. I predict we will not depart 2009 without one...though her birthday is not until November! Patience is a virtue my sweet.

Snapping In

2009-01-04T20:18:00.001-06:00

During my six years serving on active duty as a Marine back in the 1980s, one of the annual requirements was to re-qualify with our rifles. This was actually a two week process with the qualification day coming on the Friday of the second week. In fact, we would not fire a single round on the range until Monday of the second week; the whole first week was spent snapping-in (and making our targets, etc.) Snap-in week basic involved several hours in the various firing positions around a white barrel with target silhouettes painted on it. We worked mostly on tightening our sitting position and on breathing while squeezing the trigger. To call it boring would be an understatement. But, by the time you got to the range on the second week, and then especially after the 4 days of firing leading up to Qual Day on Friday, we were all ready. Our joints and muscles stretched and attuned, our breathing controlled, and very few of us failed to qualify…Marine Corps marksmanship.

1 Peter 1:13-22 (NIV) ~ Therefore, prepare your minds for action; be self-controlled; set your hope fully on the grace to be given you when Jesus Christ is revealed. As obedient children, do not conform to the evil desires you had when you lived in ignorance. But just as he who called you is holy, so be holy in all you do; for it is written: "Be holy, because I am holy." Since you call on a Father who judges each man's work impartially, live your lives as strangers here in reverent fear. For you know that it was not with perishable things such as silver or gold that you were redeemed from the empty way of life handed down to you from your forefathers, but with the precious blood of Christ, a lamb without blemish or defect. He was chosen before the creation of the world, but was revealed in these last times for your sake. Through him you believe in God, who raised him from the dead and glorified him, and so your faith and hope are in God. Now that you have purified yourselves by obeying the truth so that you have sincere love for your brothers, love one another deeply, from the heart

As Christians, we need to snap in as well. We need to prepare our hearts and minds. It may seem boring or unnecessary. But it is our duty

Ephesians 4: 21-32 ~ Surely you heard of him and were taught in him in accordance with the truth that is in Jesus. You were taught, with regard to your former way of life, to put off your old self, which is being corrupted by its deceitful desires; to be made new in the attitude of your minds; and to put on the new self, created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness.
Therefore each of you must put off falsehood and speak truthfully to his neighbor, for we are all members of one body. "In your anger do not sin": Do not let the sun go down while you are still angry, and do not give the devil a foothold. He who has been stealing must steal no longer, but must work, doing something useful with his own hands, that he may have something to share with those in need.
Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen. And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, with whom you were sealed for the day of redemption. Get rid of all bitterness, rage and anger, brawling and slander, along with every form of malice. Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you.

We've got a long way to go on this journey of faith...time to snap in and get ready!

I always qualified as a sharpshooter, which was a step below expert, the highest level of marksmanship. I think it was because I liked wearing a cross over my heart.

23 Years Ago

2009-01-02T18:44:00.003-06:00

Tomorrow morning it will have been twenty-three years,
That I stood in formation surrounded by peers,
Fourty-two of us in all, and all volunteers,
When we were dismissed to uproarious cheers,
And though we were tough, we shed many tears,
As we had all made it, overcoming our fears,
As many looked forward to toasting with beers,
Earning the title MARINE, and starting our careers.

Ooo-Rah my brothers of Platoon 2106 who all earned the title MARINE on Jan 3, 1986 after twelve weeks of boot camp at MCRD-San Diego. And a big thank you to our DIs, SSgt Garcia & Sgts Guy, Martin, and Harris.

The Past Calls from the Future

2009-01-01T12:30:00.002-06:00

OK, so we are sitting around relaxing last night, when around 7pm our time, the phone rings. It's my old friend calling to catch up...I hadn't talked to him since this past spring. In essence it was my past calling, but it was calling from the future, as my buddy lives in South Korea and where he was, it was already Jan 1st, 2009. The past calling from the future!

My buddy DaeJin and I, back in the summer of 1991, on a beach on the East Sea of Korea and climbing a mountain near his hometown of YungJu.

We met when we served together in a multi-national unit in Korea back in 1990. My final leave in the Marine Corps was spent visiting his hometown and a camping trip to the East Sea (which lasted all of 1 day due to a major typhoon that struck on day 2). He has since visited me in the US several times and we've kept in touch. He has two sons approximately the same age as mine (in fact we spent New Year's Eve 2003 together with our wives up in Wisconsin when both of our wives were pregnant with our first sons.) Friendship and bonds between Christian brothers last forever, even if you are worlds apart.

A year ends

2008-12-31T13:07:00.000-06:00

Well, we celebrated another year of community together this past Saturday night after worship with our community group. We shared appetizers, played games, and just enjoyed each other's company and fellowship one last time in 2008. We've already planned a Chinese-themed meal for this Saturday, our first of what will hopefully be many faith and fellowship filled Saturday nights to come as we also look forward to Sunday's new dedicated education hour. Thank you Lord for all the blessings of this past year and may you bless us richly in 2009 as well, if it be Your will.

Home with the boys

2008-12-30T13:03:00.002-06:00

Having a week off of work is nice, especially since the boys are home with me and we get to play and hang out together. They've grown up quite a bit in 2008, and still amaze us every day with what they learn at school, from friends, from church & Sunday school, and from books, movies, and television. I look forward to spending 2009 with them and can't wait for son number three to join us very soon.

0-8 was great

2008-12-29T12:59:00.002-06:00

Ah, what a wonderful year my sister--my bride, and I have had. We've accomplished a lot of do-it-yourself projects in the house, we built on our personal faith and on the faith of our family and even, by the grace of God, have built upon our family with our 3rd son on the way. O eight was truly great, and I look forward to O nine with my lovely wife and our boys.

Climb a tree to see

2008-12-28T12:40:00.003-06:00

My sons have a computer game that includes many Bible stories and one of their favorites is the story of Zacchaeus climbing up the Sycamore tree. The story comes from Luke 19:1-10 (NIV) ~ Jesus entered Jericho and was passing through. A man was there by the name of Zacchaeus; he was a chief tax collector and was wealthy. He wanted to see who Jesus was, but being a short man he could not, because of the crowd. So he ran ahead and climbed a sycamore-fig tree to see him, since Jesus was coming that way. When Jesus reached the spot, he looked up and said to him, "Zacchaeus, come down immediately. I must stay at your house today." So he came down at once and and welcomed him gladly. All the people saw this and began to mutter, "He has gone to be the guest of a 'sinner.'" But Zacchaeus stood up and said to the Lord, "Look, Lord! Here and now I give half of my possessions to the poor, and if I have cheated anybody out of anything, I will pay back four times the amount." Jesus said to him, "Today salvation has come to this house, because this man, too, is a son of Abraham. For the Son of Man came to seek and to save what was lost."

Zacchaeus had earthly wealth and earthly position. He lacked only in height, but still he wanted to see. The crowd blocked his vision, he overcame the crowd. But...he couldn't overcome his own sinfulness. He couldn't save himself from his sins. So he sought out the savior. He climbed a tree to see and he saw. The crowd which didn't need a tree to see focused on the sinner not the savior. The savior was just "passing through" but took the time to stop and save a sinner seeking him out...and the crowd merely focused on the sins of the sinner, instead of the grace of the Savior! Sometimes we too need to get away from the crowd, and seek out Jesus the Savior. Perhaps we need to climb a tree to see!

Snow Day

2008-12-26T09:57:00.002-06:00

Well, we tromped about in the snow at Grandma's today. Snow ball fights, sledding, snow angels. The boys just loved it...too bad all the snow will melt tonight and tomorrow! In honor of the snow, here's a poem I wrote about snow days:

I really think that snow days are cool,
And not just because you get out of school,
When the backyard becomes a winter wonderland,
Snow men, sledding and snow balls in hand,
snow forts and tunnels, and snow angels too,
Well have cold toes and cheeks before we are through,
So back in the house, before the frostbite,
Hot Cocoa with Marshmallows, sooths just right!

Merry Christmas

2008-12-25T05:54:00.001-06:00

Merry Christmas everyone

A Gift For Us All

2008-12-24T23:49:00.003-06:00

We all have received salvation, by grace through faith, through Jesus the Messiah. As the Band Aid song "Do They Know It's Christmas?" states, "the greatest gift they'll get this year is life," which is what we've all received, eternal life through Christ's death upon the cross and resurrection on Easter morning. Joy to the World indeed!

I also pray that those who are serving in harm's way tonight, delivering on God's promise of "Peace on Earth, Good Will Toward Men," that they have a most Silent Night, God keep them safe as they keep me safe each night, Amen. Merry Christmas.

Anticipation

2008-12-23T21:46:00.003-06:00

The boys are getting a little eager for Christmas to arrive. The younger one wants a dog (he'll have to settle for a visit to grandma's and a couple days of playing with the dogs there). Actually, I'm surprised at how well they've both left the presents under the tree alone. They seem more interested in playing with the ornaments than the wrapped gifts. The older one is ready to sing in the service tomorrow night. Christmas is almost here.

Bake, Bake, & Bake

2008-12-22T21:41:00.000-06:00

My sister--my bride has been in major Christmas baking mode this weekend. I've chipped in with a dipped pretzel round myself but she's still going at it with fudges & cookies galore. It will be a delicious Christmas this year.

A Wage & A Gift

2008-12-21T10:57:00.002-06:00

Christmas comes this week. We recollect the stories of Jesus the Messiah's coming so long ago and rejoice with the faithful in the hope (our confident and assured knowledge) that He will soon come again.

Romans 8:19-23 (NIV) "I put this in human terms because you are weak in your natural selves. Just as you used to offer the parts of your body in slavery to impurity and to ever-increasing wickedness, so now offer them in slavery to righteousness leading to holiness. When you were slaves to sin, you were free from the control of righteousness. What benefit did you reap at that time from the things you are now ashamed of? Those things result in death! But now that you have been set free from sin and have become slaves to God, the benefit you reap leads to holiness, and the result is eternal life. For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord."

Our wage...what we've EARNED is death. We sin. We constantly fall short. We are poor miserable sinners WORHTY of nothing by derision, shame and yes...Death! Anyone eager to cash that paycheck? No, we're all like the Cat, Dog, & Duck in the Little Red Hen story eager to say..."NOT I!" But unlike the traditional end to that story, when the Cat, Dog & Duck are very willing to eat the bread none helped or deserved, Our Lord does let us eat of the Bread of Life. Our Wage, our earnings bring us death. Our Lord gives us life as a gift. We've been set free by Jesus the Messiah's death and resurrection and the result it holiness and eternal life for us all, by the grace of God, through faith. Come Lord Jesus, Come! Merry Christmas...tis the greatest gift I have and ever will receive.

Daddy Wraps

2008-12-19T22:22:00.000-06:00

Ok, spent some time late last night wrapping up some presents for my sister--my bride and the boys. I took the man's easy way out on hers, using the gift bags method then just sealing those with tape...perfect. But the boys gifts were too big to fit a bag, so it meant having to actually wrap the gift. I'm a lousy wrapper. In December of 1990 when I was a Marine stationed in Korea and we were doing our own Toys for Tots program to get toys for a local orphanage, my duty schedule only allowed me time to volunteer to wrap. I got there, and wrapped two gifts and was summarily relieved of my duties as wrapper and told my services were no longer needed. (Marine wives can be cruel) So last night again, I let my wicked wrapping skills loose on a few things for the boys. It went downhill as I went. The first one I wrapped came out ok...but pretty lousy by department store standards. The last one was so bad it kept ripping, but rather than starting over, I just kept taping up the holes with excess paper. It will be an easy one for them to open no doubt.

Ice, Ice, Maybe?

2008-12-18T06:36:00.002-06:00

Well, this afternoon could bring us another devastating ice storm. We just went thru one two years ago in December 2006 when we lost power in the middle of the night as we heard tree branches crashing all around us. That was Thursday night to Friday morning. Friday afternoon we still had no power and packed up the car and moved into the home of friends of ours from church who lived across town in a newer subdivision (with no big trees and thus no major power outages) and stayed with them till Sunday when we moved into student housing on campus when the University I work at stepped up to house those still without power. It wasn't until Wednesday evening that we got our power back, 6 long, chilly days of uncertainty...but also a real honest test of how God provides even in a crisis. Let's hope and pray this time around that it will not have the same negative effects on us again, and I also pray that as conditions possibly deteriorate this afternoon/evening, people will stay safely at home and not risk their lives in travelling. There is something about the bravado, the man-warrior in us that makes us want to challenge nature. The big SUV with the 4-wheel drive makes us think we have all the armor we need, but in the end, the heavier vehicles just do more damage to others and themselves as they are no match for ice. Stay home. Stay safe.

Thirty Seconds Over the Caine Mutiny Battleground

2008-12-17T20:59:00.000-06:00

Van Johnson, another of my favorite actors, died this past week. When Paul Newman died earlier this year, I dedicated an entire week of posts as an homage, but with Johnson, I'll just due today's post as an homage. He was in a ton of movies, and I always thought him to be a very versatile actor who could hold his own in just about any genre and sharing screentime with legends and holding his own. My most favorite of his roles though were the war movies he did and he did several. Three of my favorites of his were:

Thirty Seconds Over Tokyo
The Caine Mutiny
Battleground

And all three speak to aspects of the ups and downs we in the Body of Christ face daily.

In Thirty Seconds Over Tokyo, which was released while World War II still raged in November of 1944, Johnson played an Army pilot of B25 bomber which was part of the famed Doolittle Raid on Tokyo in which Army bombers were launched at sea from US Navy Carriers. The movie is a docudrama of how the men trained and cooperated to get the mission done and how they made it back home after crash landing in Japanese occupied areas of China. The crew of the B25, the entire squadron, the cooperation of Army & Navy, the cooperation of Chinese nationals, and on and on speak directly to how cooperative effort with each person doing their part and each sacrificing something of there own, be it a living space on the ship, or volunteering for hazardous, potentially life-threatening, duty.

In The Caine Mutiny, a fictional drama set in World War II in the Pacific, Johnson plays the XO (second in command) to the Captain of a US Navy minesweeper (the Caine) and actually seizes command of the ship out from under the Captain in a storm after several incidents lead him to believe the Captain is mentally unfit. The finale is Johnson's character's court martial for mutiny, and the verdict (I won't play spoiler here) but it speaks directly to both what an effective team can do under effective leadership, and strategies (both good and bad) for dealing with ineffective leadership in a crisis.

Finally in Battleground, Johnson plays Holley, a member of 101st Airborne Division besieged in Bastogne by the Germans during the Battle of Bastogne. Holley is the resident complainer and comedian of his squad, who resists all efforts to make him out to be a good soldier, all the while being relied upon by his superiors because he is a good soldier (despite the attitude). I have to admit, I modeled much of my attitude in the Marine Corps on him (until I made Sergeant and an attitude adjustment became necessary). Be a go to guy without "acting" or outwardly acknowledging that you are the go to guy. Sometimes we do that within the Body of Christ too, we know we have the spiritual gifts necessary to accomplish something, but we deny them publically as we don't necessarily want the responsibility that goes along with the utilizing of those gifts in ministry. And like the 101 at Bastogne, we are besieged daily by sin, evil, and secular culture and we must rally together to hold our Holy Ground and keep the faith.

So I pay my respects to Van Johnson, a very underrated talent (never once even nominated for an Academy Award, which is just silly) who influenced me through his films. May he rest in peace, and may God bring peace to his family and friends who mourn his loss this week.

Book 'Em Daddo!

2008-12-16T06:45:00.002-06:00

There is just something special about reading books aloud. You can make the story and illustrations of a book come to life for your kids and in so doing, you get to be actor, director, sound effects person, etc. And what is especially wonderful? You don't have to have a lick of talent in any of those areas to be a star! I book'em as often as I can (almost every evening!) and whether its a favorite book of theirs I've read a thousand times or something completely new to them and me from the library or book orders, we can all get wrapped up in the tales.

Pot Pie Kinda Day

2008-12-15T17:49:00.002-06:00

My sister--my bride was such a sweetie today. Despite being under the weather and feeling fairly lousy (compounded by the limits placed on her being pregnant in terms of what types of cold symptom relief meds she could take to ease her suffering) she still had a hot pot pie waiting for me when I got home for lunch today. Monday is her day off and I often meet her at home for lunch and its always good. What a sweetheart she is. Hope you are feeling better sooner than later sweetie.

Are You Serious?

2008-12-14T21:39:00.002-06:00

As the advent Advent-ure continues, and my focus is on repenting of my sins and preparing myself for the savior to come, I think an appropriate verse for this week is found in Colossians 3:1-4 (NIV) ~ "Since, then, you have been raised with Christ, set your hearts on things above, where Christ is seated at the right hand of God. Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things. For you died, and your life is now hidden with Christ in God. When Christ, who is your life, appears, then you also will appear with him in glory."

Are we living invisible? Are we serious about having died to sin and living a life of meaning and purpose where that meaning and purpose is tied up in Him (and not us at all!)? As we prepare for Christmas; for our Savior's coming to rescue us; for Jesus the Messiah to return; are we focused on the things above?

Heavenly Father, I pray that this week you will help me live the life now hidden, a life of, by, and for you. Amen

Cranberries & Coffee

2008-12-12T06:13:00.003-06:00

Cold winter winds blow chill through the air,
As I awake in the morning and out my window do stare.
French roast brews away as I try to awaken,
Oh how I wish I had remembered to buy bacon.

A loud exhale from the coffee maker roars,
So I pour me a cup to fight off the snores,
But I still haven't settled on an edible treat,
So I look through the cupboard for something to eat.

I spy a package, clear, plastic, and square,
Inside it is cookies, so I grab out a pair,
Hard cookies with cranberries, and a hot cup of joe,
In my bliss, not a care that it started to snow.

Moron Work?

2008-12-11T19:04:00.001-06:00

Most every Thursday morning, I meet with several other men of the community at my church for Men's Fraternity. Currently we've been working our way through the second year material "Winning at Home & Work" and it has been a big growth experience for us all the past two years.

Last night, I reminded my wife that I would be getting up early since it was a Thursday (we meet at 6am). she asked, "So what is the topic this week?"
I answered without hesitation "I think it is more on work" (as opposed to being on our spouses, or our parenting, etc.)

She immediately retorted "What is Moron Work?"

Blago the Terrible~RESIGN NOW!

2008-12-10T07:04:00.004-06:00

the Preamble to the Illinois Constitution:

WE, THE PEOPLE of the State of Illinois - grateful to
Almighty God for the civil, political and religious liberty
which He has permitted us to enjoy and seeking His blessing
upon our endeavors - in order to provide for the health,
safety and welfare of the people; maintain a representative
and orderly government; eliminate poverty and inequality;
assure legal, social and economic justice; provide
opportunity for the fullest development of the individual;
insure domestic tranquility; provide for the common defense;
and secure the blessings of freedom and liberty to ourselves
and our posterity - do ordain and establish this Constitution
for the State of Illinois.

Speaking as one of those persons, grateful to Almighty God, I call on Blago the Terrible, our seemingly corrupt and incompetent governor to resign effective immediately. You have failed to provide health, safety, and welfare to residents of the Prairie state. You have failed to eliminate poverty and inequality (in fact many of your incompetent actions have been extremely inequitable). You have failed to assure legal, social and economic justice (while your corrupt acts have fomented legal, social and economic INjustice), you provide only for the development of you and your family and friends, and tranquility has been non-existent in our state since you took office. Help us secure the blessings of freedom and liberty...by RESIGNING IMMEDIATELY.

I pray that God will help the citizens of the Prairie state clean up our house once and for all so that we may once again enjoy that civil, political and religious liberty which He has permitted us to enjoy.

In our room

2008-12-09T20:29:00.005-06:00

Our older son occassionally winds up in our bed in the middle of the night. It used to be a regular thing but we've worked and worked on preventing that and though sometimes he starts out there (and once asleep we move him), it is becoming rarer and rarer that he wakes up in the middle of the night and comes in our room again. Last night he fell asleep in our bed, and we moved him and he spent the night in his own room. This morning, he told his mom that we shouldn't do that. We should let him sleep in our bed. No way Jose.

Our younger son lately has taken to bringing his pillows and blankets into our room and crashing on our floor or in the hallway outside our room. Now he is one who's never slept in our bed, and has always had no trouble sleeping alone in his own room.

Not sure what the recent change is about but it could be the anticipation of the arrival of brother #3 very soon.

She Came Thru!

2008-12-08T22:34:00.001-06:00

Got my Toblerone fix this weekend as I awoke to a Toblerone bar in my shoe (and one in my sister--my bride's shoe as well) Way to go sweetie...er...ah...St. Nick!

Advent-URE

2008-12-07T10:44:00.003-06:00

Well, were into the Advent season (want to know more about what this is, click HERE)

I like to look at it as the beginning of the annual faith journy, the beginning of this years adventure. Advent means "coming," so just who is coming? The U R E helps define just who is coming and why.

U = US, that's right, you and I and all people. Romans 3:23 (NIV) states "for ALL have sinned and fall short of the glory of God." We all are sinners. We all deserve punishment. That punishment is death. We need to Repent for those sins. We are in need of Redemption, we are in need of a Redeemer.

R = Repent & Redeemer. For us, the coming of a savior should make us want to prepare. Just as when we invite guests over, we clean the house and prepare it for their coming. Likewise John the Baptist came before Jesus the Messiah calling on us all to prepare the way by repenting for our sin. We need to ready ourselves for the coming of the Redeemer. For most importantly, R points to the coming of redemption, that the Repentant will be Redeemed. So just who is this Redeemer that is coming?

E = Emmanuel. The GOD WITH US. It is Jesus the Messiah. God in the flesh who came to redeem us. "for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God," yet Romans 3:24-26 (NIV) continues from the above: "and are justified freely by his grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus. God presented him as a sacrifice of atonement, through faith in his blood. He did this to demonstrate his justice, because in his forbearance he had left the sins committed beforehand unpunished—he did it to demonstrate his justice at the present time, so as to be just and the one who justifies those who have faith in Jesus."

So this Advent season, I prepare for another church year. Another journey of faith to grow closer to my God and pray that I will this year better walk in His way and do His will. Let the AdventURE begin!

Shoe By The Door

2008-12-05T06:59:00.004-06:00

Shoe By The Door (aka: Oh Toblerone!)

Oh Toblerone! Oh Toblerone!
Thy chocolate so triangular.
Oh Toblerone! Oh Toblerone!
Thy chocolate so triangular.
They're triangles of chocolate bliss
They're triangles oh so Swiss
Oh Toblerone! Oh Toblerone!
Thy chocolate so triangular.
Oh Toblerone! Oh Toblerone!
Thy chocolate so triangular.

Oh Toblerone! Oh Toblerone!
You fill my shoe so greatly.
Oh Toblerone! Oh Toblerone!
You fill my shoe so greatly.
I wake up on St. Nicholas Day
And to my shoe you've found your way
Oh Toblerone! Oh Toblerone!
You fill my shoe so greatly.

Oh Toblerone! Oh Toblerone!
My shoe is now quite empty.
Oh Toblerone! Oh Toblerone!
My shoe is now quite empty.
I ate each pyramid and enjoyed.
But now my diet's quite destroyed.
Oh Toblerone! Oh Toblerone!
My shoe is now quite empty.

The above is a poem (er..ah...hymn...carol...song) in honor of all those years I got a Toblerone bar in my shoe left at my bedroom door on St. Nicholas Day eve. That's tonight by the way (hint hint honey!)

27 Hours in a car mostly driving

2008-12-04T20:50:00.002-06:00

I did all but 3 of those hours as the driver, that's an entire day spent behind the wheel and mostly at speeds above a mile a minute. Hurtling a couple thousand pounds of steel mini-van down a cold and windy prairie highway around bigger trucks and smaller cars and all with the entire family on board and trusting you to keep them safe. Now that is adventure! It is a sense of accomplishment to get there, then get back again, and logging the times all the way noting how good (or bad) the pace is. OK, enough of this driving stuff, the trip is done, and I'm glad of it. [Getting to see the family there though makes it all worth it]

27 Hours in a car in traffic

2008-12-03T21:46:00.002-06:00

Well, we made our annual trek northward and then back southward. Good weather and light traffic for the ascent, lousy weather and heavy traffic for the return. Still, despite the lousy weather and heavy traffic, we made better time coming home. Something about a nice day and light traffic (and no need to rush to get there) helps slow the pace a little where as lousy weather, heavy traffic and needing to get home that night all contribute to driving with intesity. I guess that is what we are all doing on the road in those "rush hour" times...driving with intensity...and so I made it home. I'm glad to not have to do that again for another year.

27 Hours in a car as little boys

2008-12-02T22:34:00.000-06:00

OK, yesterday we gave mommy all the praise, today, the boys deservingly get their share for being such great little men on our recent trip to South Dakota. Getting awoke at TWO in the morning to go potty, then walking down to an ice cold garage to get in the van in the middle of the night, then managing to fall back asleep and sleeping all the way to Coralville, Iowa. Great job both of you guys. You were well behaved all the way there and back again and even did ok when your DVD player finally gave out after 3 years. Thanks for the knock knock jokes guys, you were awesome!

27 Hours in a car while pregnant

2008-12-01T23:14:00.000-06:00

A long time ago, I said I was married to thee Wonder Woman. She again proved me correct with her unbelievable travel stamina while 6 months pregnant this past week. She did the 14 hours there and the 13 hours home, a total of 27 hours of travel, without complaint, and actually, without much discomfort! Great job sweetie! The best part of these trips back to see your side of the family is that I get to sit next to you for very long periods of time! Awesome!

Road Trips Revisited

2008-11-30T22:40:00.000-06:00

Today, as I drove 13 hours from South Dakota back home, I'm inspired to refer back to an older devotion about Road Trips:

Road Trips blog post

Note that our DVD player gave out long before the end of the trip, and much of the last few hours were spent exchanging knock-knock jokes...and even the nonsensical ones from our 4 and 5 year olds were funny and a great way to connect as a family.

Thank you Lord for bringing us back home safely from our long trip.

Dakota

2008-11-28T07:57:00.002-06:00

Well, here we are on our annual excursion to the Dakotas, heading just inside the Northern version today. This weekend its full of pheasant hunters out to bag some birds. Hopefully we won't be hit by any stray shot. Here's my Dakota's poem, in honor of being here:

Dakota oh so big, Dakota oh so flat,
Dakota oh so cold, I'm glad I wore my hat.

Dakota oh so brown, Dakota oh so dreary,
Dakota oh so wintry, it's hard to feel cheery.

Dakota oh so spacious, Dakota oh so wide,
Dakota oh so boring, thank God for the water slide!

Dakota oh so spread out, Dakota oh so sparse,
Dakota oh don't be angry, at this poetic farce.

Turkey, Football, and Pizza?

2008-11-27T21:56:00.002-06:00

Thanksgiving at the in-laws went well, we were well fed yet, we were hungry again in the evening so it was a pizza chaser tonight. Could the NFL games have been any more boring?

Road Warriors

2008-11-26T22:53:00.001-06:00

Well, we made it. 13 hours and 52 minutes after our 2:30AM departure, we arrived some 800 miles away from home to spend Thanksgiving weekend with my sister--my bride's family. Exhausting trip. I have to say though, that the roads were great (not a single bit of construction the entire way!) and the traffic was mild and everyone on the road was cooperating great.

David & Goliath

2008-11-25T07:16:00.002-06:00

I took on the task of teaching the Kindergarten and younger Sunday school class this week (both of my sons making up 1/3 the class). The topic was appropriately David and Goliath as the big guy (me) all 6 foot plus of him was quickly and easily dispatched and conquered by the little ones. They didn't even need the stone to fell the giant, their teacher, and when all was said and done, they knew full well the little guy can easily defeat the mighty big one, no matter how loud he can yell and boast! I don't think I'll foray into that age group teaching again anytime soon.

In-Laws-A-Go-Go

2008-11-24T23:11:00.002-06:00

Well, it's over the river (the Mississippi and a few smaller ones) and through the woods (actually several of these) for a fourteen hour drive to South Dakota to spend Thanksgiving with my sister--my bride's family this week. We depart at Zero Dark (2 or 3AM-ish) on Wednesday and do the 14 hour return on Sunday. We'll enjoy a few days there, including a short foray into North Dakota to see her sister's family up there. Its my wife's one chance a year to go "back home" and despite the long ride (and it is even longer when she is pregnant) and the usual lousy cold weather this time of year, we gladly make the journey (and actually wish we could afford to do it more often than just once a year).

Universal Symbol of Hope and Love

2008-11-23T22:57:00.000-06:00

Have you seen the commercials with a certain celeb touting her new jewelry design based on her artwork as a new "universal symbol of hope and love?" It looks like a #2 and is two very sharp, open hearts, almost yin-yan like, atop each other. She is quoted as saying "If your heart is open, love will always find its way in."

Do we really need a new symbol for this?

Romans 5:1-8 (NIV) ~ "Therefore, since we have been justified through faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have gained access by faith into this grace in which we now stand. And we rejoice in the hope of the glory of God. Not only so, but we also rejoice in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope. And hope does not disappoint us, because God has poured out his love into our hearts by the Holy Spirit, whom he has given us.
You see, at just the right time, when we were still powerless, Christ died for the ungodly. Very rarely will anyone die for a righteous man, though for a good man someone might possibly dare to die. But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us."

I don't need a new symbol, I don't need "an open heart" ready to be filled. It's not about MY Kingdom, my hope is in THINE Kingdom, the eternal kingdom of God. You can't find that at a Jewelry store or in celebrity artwork. It is by grace through faith in Jesus the Messiah offered to us all.

Improper Dress

2008-11-21T06:21:00.003-06:00

A poem about retrieving the morning paper in the cold without proper attire.

Oh the weather outside is chilly,
And I find it rather silly,
That I don a robe so frilly,
To reach outside for the paper,
And get attacked by the frozen vapor,
As my neighbor uses his scraper,
On his car windows covered in frost,
But my paper not properly tossed,
Has some how gotten lost,
In the bushes near the door,
Making it quite the chore,
And my fingers, toes, and more,
Are chilled right down to the bone,
My skin turning to stone,
If only the paper had been thrown,
Right up on the porch,
I wouldn't need a torch,
To thaw what now is scorched,
By frozen and bitter chill,
That became the bitter pill,
I took without a thrill,
As I braved winter's cold,
In scant clothing oh so bold,
That my neighbor had to scold,
On such a chilly day,
Why the paper couldn't make its way,
To where it normally lay,
Right there on the stoop,
Where I could simply scoop,
It up with barely a droop,
Alas, I must confess,
That I have caused this stress,
By my improper dress.

Chili Dogs

2008-11-20T20:10:00.001-06:00

The Chili dog is near perfection on the male-meal-o-ometer. Separately both rate pretty high but combined, they nearly blow out the top of the scale. Perhaps the only thing keeping them from blowing out the top of the scale is that they often lead to the eater blowing out the bottom of his tail, and though that might bring precious relief, it isn't a very enjoyable atmosphere in which to be relieved.

Group Efforts ~ So Simple

2008-11-19T21:54:00.002-06:00

Ever get a task that is actually really simple, but it requires a coordinated effort of a group of people? Today I had the task of going to a storage area to retreive an old book someone needed. Simple. However, when going there, one needs to return any volumes that had previously been removed so there was too many of those to carry myself. In addition, we don't have a key to the storage area, so we can only go when there is someone there to let us in. I found someone willing to join me on my quest but it took an hour to finally track down someone with a key to let us in the place. Coordinated effort to accomplish a simple task. Some would argue that "there's got to be an easier way," or wonder why I just don't have a key myself. But really, this allowed for controlled access to valuable items, and by my bringing someone along, that person now knows how to go about getting one of the old volumes, in case I'm not around.

That is how the Body of Christ works at times too. It might seem "simpler" to just do it ourselves, but we can't be everywhere at once, and sometimes a coordinated effort is just what God intends, so that more people get involved in both sharing and hearing THE Message.

Four years ago last night

2008-11-18T06:36:00.001-06:00

Four years ago last night, at 11:30pm precisely, our second son was born. It was a long day of labor for my sister--my bride and though I tried to be supportive, I myself was down with a 24-hour virus at the worst possible moment, and spent much of that day curled up on a recliner in the delivery suite. But I got over my illness and our second son is now four years old. I remember what a struggle it was to get our first son to breast feed and yet the second one had already had his first meal before midnight on that November night before he was even an hour old. What a blessing he has been and is to our family (and more importantly to God's family). Thanks be to God.

Dinner Out

2008-11-17T22:30:00.001-06:00

Enjoying a good meal out at a restaurant is one of my sister--my bride's favorite things to do and we did so tonight to celebrate our younger son's 4th birthday. That meant the boys were along and enjoying a dinner out themselves, and part of that enjoyment was to not behave very well. Thankfully, it was a Monday night and NO-ONE else was having dinner out so we had almost the entire restaurant to ourselves and were not to worried about disturbing other diners.

It's funny though that much of our conversation, when not directed at the boys or figuring out what we were ordering, was geared toward, we should get a baby-sitter and do this without them here. Yes we should. Not because we don't love spending every possible minute with our beloved sons but precisely because we love spending precious minutes on dates with each other, and those minutes are increasingly rare. I sense another "Dinner Out" in our near future.

Joy from Anxiety

2008-11-16T11:15:00.000-06:00

These are anxious times. There is worry, doubt, and fear thick in the air. Uncertainty is contagious and spreading. We are slipping.

Psalm 94:18-19 (NIV) ~ "When I said, 'My foot is slipping,' your love, O LORD, supported me. When anxiety was great within me, your consolation brought joy to my soul."

There is no uncertainty when it comes to our Lord and Savior, Christ Jesus. By grave, through faith you and I have been saved. Praise God we are RESCUED.

Summer has gone away

2008-11-14T06:39:00.001-06:00

Summer has gone away, and fall is rapidly fleeting,
The skies begin to grey, a chill is winter's greeting.

Blankets come out of closets, as cocoa warms on the stove,
Trees make leafy deposits, rakes gather quite a trove.

Frost coats the ground, as breath can now be seen,
The grass now has browned, gone is the luscious green.

Heavy coats, hats, and gloves, are donned to venture out,
Where are the Mourning Doves, which used to roam about?

Summer has gone away, and fall is rapidly fleeting,
Time to get out the sleigh, and ignite the indoor heating.

Birthdays

2008-11-13T22:32:00.000-06:00

Today is my sister--my bride's birthday. A nice, simple dinner cooked by me was the order of the day (the boys and I surprised her last night with her gift and a homemade card) and will finish off with a lunch date tomorrow.

This weekend we celebrate our younger son's (soon to be the middle one) 4th birthday with some family coming down. It's root beer pulled pork & homemade pizza for the feast!

Phone Calls From Old Friends

2008-11-12T20:27:00.000-06:00

There is nothing like hearing a voice out of the past and picking up a conversation where it left off 20 years ago! Yesterday at lunch I was pretty stressed, pretty beat up from the stress and missing my sister--my bride who was away. I was in dire need of a pick-me-up. I chose to work through lunch to get more done and yet, I needed the break both mentally and physically, just wasn't willing to allow myself the chance and then the phone rang.

A voice on the other end all the way from Texas was one I hadn't heard since the late 1980s when I was still in the Marines and somewhere between Hawaii and Korea. After nearly an hour of catching up with 20 years of our lives, I was rejuvinated, made fresh and ready for the long hours of work that lay ahead. Old friends who call you out of the blue make for a wonderful tonic. Thanks God, I needed that and you moved a heart to make them need to talk to me too. As always, perfect timing!

Survived

2008-11-11T23:11:00.000-06:00

Just me and the boys the past two days and nights and we made it through without mom again...this time noone even got sick! Feels good to have her home with us, we survived. Speaking of surviving, today is Veterans Day, and the 90th Anniversary of Armistice Day. In honor of all those veteran's who have served, I offer this pictorial of my visit to Veteran's Point at Weldon Springs State Park in Clinton. The boys and I checked it out back in May and I never shared the pictures, today seems an appropriate day to share them.

Bachelor Dad again

2008-11-10T20:10:00.001-06:00

Well, the boys and I survived a day and night without mommy (my sister--my bride) and we've got one more to go! We miss her A LOT!

Semper Fidelis

2008-11-09T19:03:00.002-06:00

Tomorrow marks the 233rd birthday of the US Marine Corps, and the 525th anniversary of Martin Luther's birth. As Lutheran and former Marine, it is thus a date of dual importance to me. The Marine Corps motto, Semper Fidelis means "Always Faithful," and Martin Luther restored the Biblical truth of by faith alone, both again core philosophies for my being.

I thank God today for His servant Martin Luther and for the US Marine Corps and how He has used both to shape who I am so that I might serve Him by serving others.

In-Advertently

2008-11-07T21:34:00.002-06:00

If Hardees is right that men don't bake, just who is it that bakes most of the frozen pizzas in this country?

If the side effects will kill you, why on earth would you want to take a prescription medicine that would only slightly reduce a symptom of your ailment?

If Axe is so "attractive" to women, why don't you find any in the store aisle where it is sold?

If germs are all over every surface in the house, why wouldn't they also be on the disinfectant bottle and the rag you use to wipe it up with?

Raking, and Raking Again

2008-11-06T20:27:00.002-06:00

I've raked the yard clean twice this past week. In both cases, the yard was completely filled with new leaves by the time I'd finished bagging those I'd just raked up. Thankfully, the high winds today and hopefully the rest of the weekend will clean out most of the remaining leaves from the branches so I'll only have one or two more big cleanups to do yet.

How it works

2008-11-05T21:50:00.000-06:00

Yesterday, we had to make a midday trip to St.Louis to visit with a pediatric neurosurgeon about our hydrochepalic son in the womb. That meant figuring out the logistics of getting the boys to their schools and arranging for them to be picked up if necessary if we didn't make it home in time, etc. Wednesday is also a very busy day for my sister--my bride as she usually has a lot of prepwork to get ready for our Wednesday evening F3 nights and the meal that his served each week. All that had to be picked up by others for the day and night.

That is how it works. We had to make the 2-1/2 hour drive there and then the same on the return on that day. We had plenty of members of the Body of Christ, that is the family of God (our family), who assured us all would be fine and it was. That is how it works. When we needed assistance, when we needed friends to take some time and do some things for us, we had no shortage of volunteers. I like how it works. Thank God for how it works, and God bless all those who stepped up and helped us when we needed it.

My Son Voted

2008-11-04T07:15:00.003-06:00

Our 5 year old voted in his Kindergarten class yesterday. Though he can correctly pronounce and identify a picture of Barack Obama, he said he voted for "McLean." hmmm. Maybe I shouldn't watch so much M*A*S*H on Hallmark channel.

I will go to the polls today and cast my votes in the various local, state, and federal elections. I pray that all eligible also do so and also pray that whatever the outcomes may be, those who gain or retain power tomorrow will think of my three son's futures before they exercise the powers WE THE PEOPLE have granted them by electing them to their offices to serve US.

Half Way Home

2008-11-03T22:10:00.002-06:00

My sister--my bride, my very pregnant wife marked a milestone in our current pregnancy as we hit the 20week half way point. She marked the occassion by getting an fetal MRI done today and put up the confined space and very loud noise (that our son in the womb I guess didn't like much either) to get some good images of the little guy to take to St. Louis on Wednesday. She's doing well, though has now to transition into not only slightly bigger maternity wear but also into fall/winter season stuff at the same time. Hang in there sweetie!

Lord Please Make Us One

2008-11-02T09:54:00.002-06:00

How fitting that the 70th Anniversary of the famed War of the Worlds broadcast fell this final week of 2008 election season. For close to two years now we the people have been bombarded, invaded, and devastated by endless bickering, distortions, and paper promises. We are battered, we are tired, we just want it to end. Tuesday, barring another 2000 fiasco, it should all come to an end. And then it will be up to us again, we the people, to rebuild the nation torn apart by political rhetoric, pompous political punditry, and perceptions of mistaken political mandates. So how does a nation torn apart, a people in opposition come together?

Ephesians 2:11-22 (NIV):

Therefore, remember that formerly you who are Gentiles by birth and called "uncircumcised" by those who call themselves "the circumcision" (that done in the body by the hands of men)— remember that at that time you were separate from Christ, excluded from citizenship in Israel and foreigners to the covenants of the promise, without hope and without God in the world. But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far away have been brought near through the blood of Christ.
For he himself is our peace, who has made the two one and has destroyed the barrier, the dividing wall of hostility, by abolishing in his flesh the law with its commandments and regulations. His purpose was to create in himself one new man out of the two, thus making peace, and in this one body to reconcile both of them to God through the cross, by which he put to death their hostility. He came and preached peace to you who were far away and peace to those who were near. For through him we both have access to the Father by one Spirit.

Consequently, you are no longer foreigners and aliens, but fellow citizens with God's people and members of God's household, built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, with Christ Jesus himself as the chief cornerstone. In him the whole building is joined together and rises to become a holy temple in the Lord. And in him you too are being built together to become a dwelling in which God lives by his Spirit.

This is what we the people need, in order to form a more perfect union. Come Wednesday, Thursday, Friday and beyond, I pray that God will help us all find it.

In honor of Reformation Day!

2008-10-31T06:39:00.001-05:00

Sung to the tune of A Mighty Fortress

A mighty Ford truck has my wife,
a mini-van with boys wailing;
for hauling groceries bread, milk, and spud,
or taking packages for mailing,
It cost us lots of dough,
But protects us from the snow,
On long trips it is great,
When the alignment is kept straight,
It’s old, we need its sequel!

War of the Worlds

2008-10-30T21:55:00.003-05:00

Listened to a local re-enactment of the War of the Worlds radio broadcast tonight on the occassion of its 70th anniversary. A little artistic talent combined with radio technology, and a good story, managed to give thousands a real fright back in 1938. Of course today, we have Snopes to set us straight on those scary pieces of news we pick up.

It was a far more positive daddies session this morning, as most of us were pretty low after last Thursday's beat down, but things are looking up for us dads and my dad is home from the hospital too, thank you God!

Next week holds more tests and a trip to St. Louis for my young son in the womb, please keep him and us in your prayers.

Abandoned in Nebraska

2008-10-29T22:52:00.003-05:00

More teenagers discarded this week in Nebraska. I'm just so happy that my father, who art in Heaven, no matter how rebellious, antagonistic, mean-spirited, and downright bad I get as a sinner, never abandons me.

High Five

2008-10-28T20:34:00.003-05:00

Well, we went back for another ultrasound on our third son today and he immediately showed us his "High Five" as the very first image we saw on the screen was a clear shot of his right hand, fingers extended. He is a little wiggly worm who didn't want to sit still. He looks healthy and vibrant in every way, though he still has fluid in his head that likely will need to be dealt with at birth. His five digits reminded me of this past Saturday when we were going to a weenie roast. My wife had told our 5-year old that we would be going at Five and even pointed to the clock and said when it reads "5:00" we would be going. He turned into a veritable Gary Cooper ala High Noon, watching the clock and waiting for "High Five" when the train would arrive (or our car would leave I guess). It got so bad that he began doodling on his magna-doodle and my wife and I just had to capture the image on film.

This is the actual drawing he did on his magna-doodle as he watched the clock:

That is focus!

Well, we got to go to the weenie roast and a good time was had by all. Keep our 3rd son in your prayers (and my beautiful wife also as this little wiggle worm is so active that very soon when he's big enough for her to feel these movements I doubt if she is going to get much sleep!)

Pumpkins

2008-10-27T20:59:00.002-05:00

We carved pumpkins this weekend and got these wonderful battery-powered lights to go inside (no flames which is great with little kids) that change colors and really do a good job of illuminating the faces of the pumpkins. The boys each made their own, one happy and one sad and they are up in the window. On Monday's I pick up the boys from school afterwork and as it is getting dark earlier, I wondered if Mommy would have them turned on tonight when we got home.

Sure enough, we pulled into the driveway and there were the colorfully sad & happy pumpkins sitting up in the window for the boys to admire. What a great mommy they have. Oh, but it gets better cause they walked upstairs to thank her and she had their supper fresh out of the oven and ready to eat! What a great mommy they have.

To the doctor tomorrow for us to check on son # 3 inside that great mommy, keep him and her and all of us in your prayers please.

A Bulwark Never Failing

2008-10-26T16:49:00.000-05:00

On Wednesday I sought strength and solice in Psalm 46. See post:

Today we celebrate Reformation Sunday and opened our service with Luther's own hymn, "A Mighty Fortress is Our God." Its a hymn he wrote close to 500 years ago, and is a paraphrase of that same Psalm 46. As I stood amidst the congregation singing with the organ on the opening verse, the word bulwark struck a chord with me. It is not used in all of the many english translations that exist of the hymn that Luther penned in German and though I'm sure I've sung it that way before, it stood out to me today.

It is comforting to know that our God is an awesome God. Our God is a Mighty Fortress. Our God is a bulwark...NEVER FAILING.

Romans 8:31b ~ If God is for us, who can be against us?

Doughnuts

2008-10-24T07:27:00.003-05:00

My sons have a video from the library with an old short from the early sixties on it. It's a Homer Price story about a machine that makes doughnuts and won't stop making them and soon the little cafe is full of doughnuts. It makes us all hungry for doughnuts as we watch this silly little film, and inspired the poem below:

The simple fried cake batter with a hole in the middle,
Oh how I've loved thee, ever since I was little.

You fit on my finger, and taste great every bite,
It doesn't take long for you to be completely out of sight.

From the basic cake style to the glazed or the frosted,
Filled, sprinkled, twirled, no possibility have you exhausted.

The Long John, Eclair, and any claiming to be your cousin,
Cannot compare to a Sunday morning dozen.

Thanks for the joy you bring in a delictable round,
The champion of breakfasts you should surely be crowned.

Dad

2008-10-23T21:14:00.005-05:00

I'm a dad. I have a dad. I have my third son on the way. Both my dad and my third son presently have health concerns. I am concerned. It's funny how God works sometimes.

This morning, in the midst of wanting answers about my own father and as a father about my own unborn son, our Men's Fraternity lesson was entitled, "What Every Dad Needs To Know." It was rich and powerful lesson and discussion that enriched the fathers present as much as it convicted them for falling short as dads. It closed with a video of Team Hoyt, a father and son team who run triathlons and marathons together, which can be seen on YouTube here:

That says it all about what Our Father Who Art In Heaven does for us, and what the father he provided for me here on earth has done for me, and the challenge that lays before me as a father to three sons God has gifted me with. May I rise each day thankful to God for the gifts and blessings he has bestowed and eager to do His will as a father to His children. What Every Dad Needs To Know is that God is there for us...it's just what I needed to know this morning!

I Need To Remind Myself today that

2008-10-22T23:13:00.002-05:00

Psalm 46 (King James Version) ~
God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble. Therefore will not we fear, though the earth be removed, and though the mountains be carried into the midst of the sea; Though the waters thereof roar and be troubled, though the mountains shake with the swelling thereof. Selah.

There is a river, the streams whereof shall make glad the city of God, the holy place of the tabernacles of the most High. God is in the midst of her; she shall not be moved: God shall help her, and that right early. The heathen raged, the kingdoms were moved: he uttered his voice, the earth melted. The LORD of hosts is with us; the God of Jacob is our refuge. Selah.

Come, behold the works of the LORD, what desolations he hath made in the earth. He maketh wars to cease unto the end of the earth; he breaketh the bow, and cutteth the spear in sunder; he burneth the chariot in the fire. BE STILL, AND KNOW THAT I AM GOD: I will be exalted among the heathen, I will be exalted in the earth. The LORD of hosts is with us; the God of Jacob is our refuge. Selah.

Please keep my young unborn son in your prayers today and also my father who collapsed at home this morning and is in the hospital tonight still awaiting answers to the questions about his health, what happened, and what is in store for him. Stress test will be tomorrow. The eldest and least men in my family need our prayers, it is such a comfort to know that the Body of Christ that God has so richly blessed us with has responded to our calls in this time of stress for us. It is truly a comfort and joy to know that God is in control, and has provided us with so many friends and family that continuously remind us of that fact.

My THREE sons

2008-10-21T23:00:00.000-05:00

Well, ultrasound was this morning and we are having a boy, our third. Cute little guy looked healthy in every way but one, so we have been referred to specialist and will undergo some further tests/ultrasounds to determine what, if anything is wrong, and monitor the situation. Please keep this precious, beautiful, smiling tiny boy in your prayers as we trust that God will keep him in His care.

Sciatica Sporadica

2008-10-20T22:55:00.000-05:00

My sister--my bride, my dear beloved wife is suffering in her current pregnancy. Though I remember that her sporadic bouts of sciatica were just as bad in her previous pregnancies, she's convinced this is the worst it has ever been. The worst part about it is, it only seems to strike when she is the most relaxed. So I pray today for her pain to ease or a remedy arise to ease the stress on her sciatic nerve so that she may have a little comfort.

Going in the Strength You Have

2008-10-19T10:44:00.003-05:00

Have you ever felt inadequate? Have you ever felt that you weren't up to the task? Have you ever looked at a home or work project and thought, "I need to hire someone who knows what they are doing to get this done?" Sometimes life in general throws those kind of curves at us. How can we cope with crisis in the family or finances or natural disasters, etc.? Gideon felt that way too:

Judges 6:12-16 (NIV) states ~ When the angel of the LORD appeared to Gideon, he said, "The LORD is with you, mighty warrior."

"But sir," Gideon replied, "if the LORD is with us, why has all this happened to us? Where are all his wonders that our fathers told us about when they said, 'Did not the LORD bring us up out of Egypt?' But now the LORD has abandoned us and put us into the hand of Midian."

The LORD turned to him and said, "Go in the strength you have and save Israel out of Midian's hand. Am I not sending you?"

"But Lord , [a] " Gideon asked, "how can I save Israel? My clan is the weakest in Manasseh, and I am the least in my family."

The LORD answered, "I will be with you, and you will strike down all the Midianites together."

Gideon saw his own strength as being inadequate...just as David's fellow Israelites would later see him as a boy being no match for the giant warrior Goliath. In neither case did God increase their size or strength, He sent both out with the strength they had. It was more than enough, for the faithful have God with them and no matter how weak they might be in appearance, a mustard seed of faith left in them makes them the strongest around. For our strength comes from Him whom, by grace through faith has redeemed us and made us new creations, strong and eternal! Our God truly is an awesome God and we should go forth each day, doing His will with the strength we have.

Ode to a Dust Bunny

2008-10-17T12:57:00.002-05:00

Inspired by a day off housecleaning project:

The floor of our kitchen is like the wild, wild, west,

For there under the table, a tumbleweed finds rest.

A dust bunny just glides with the breeze in the room,

Hoping to avoid capture by the dustpan and broom.

Despite capture after capture though, they always return,

Generation after generation they never seem to learn.

A broom, mop, or vacuum, there typical demise,

My son once ate one, that was a surprise!

But as pets go, dust bunnies can't be beat,

They don't eat, poop, or bite, and stay under your seat.

No trips to the shelter or pet shop mind you,

You've already got them, don't tell them to shew!

Leave them a corner, a place out of the way,

They don't need to be walked, they don't even play.

But for dust bunny owners, the best part of all

To keep them happy, just don't clean your floors or your hall!

Praying for Bill

2008-10-16T21:12:00.000-05:00

I think that Bill hates me. His new movie mocks all that I hold dear, but it seems Bill goes beyond mere mocking humor. Bill seemingly wants to prove that religion and religious devotees are the real root of the world's often violent turmoil. Bill seems to have malice toward me.

So what is a humble man of God to do? Jesus says:

Matthew 5:43-48 (NIV) ~ "You have heard that it was said, 'Love your neighbor and hate your enemy.' But I tell you: Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, that you may be sons of your Father in heaven. He causes his sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous. If you love those who love you, what reward will you get? Are not even the tax collectors doing that? And if you greet only your brothers, what are you doing more than others? Do not even pagans do that? Be perfect, therefore, as your heavenly Father is perfect."

I love you Bill. Further more, Jesus loves you. May God Bless you and help you find, and keep you in, His everlasting peace.

Final Debate...Both Lost

2008-10-15T23:13:00.001-05:00

Neither of the two major-party candidates has done anything to win my vote this year. Now that the final debate is history...I've made up my mind.

Chuck Baldwin for President 2008

He is the closest to my own thoughts and feelings and in an era where change is the key to election, it's time we change the two party system that has done nothing but let us down and give us no real choices but more of the same. If you do what you've always done, expect to get what you've always got.

Now many will argue that my vote is then "wasted." I disagree. A vote for someone you don't agree with, or think is incompetent to lead simply because they are the candidate in one of the only two parties to win the Presidency since 1860 is in my mind, a bigger waste of a vote.

The only way to have a government OF, BY, and FOR the PEOPLE is to vote for who you think will do the best job in office, in getting the ideals you believe in most turned into action. It is not WE THE PARTY...it is WE THE PEOPLE, and its time the PEOPLE stood up and threw out the two party system that holds us back. Throwing it out starts by voting for a third party. The time has come...don't waste this opportunity...I know I won't.

We Got A Puppy!

2008-10-14T21:35:00.000-05:00

Hey, my sister--my bride, finally caved in and let us get a puppy! She just couldn't resist those adorable little eyes and the tiny wet nose. Hey, and the best part is...

...he's ALREADY HOUSE TRAINED!

Our youngest with face paint courtesy of Sunday's Fall Family Festival at church!

Before the Dawn

2008-10-13T07:23:00.001-05:00

I was up today before the dawn,
And watched you lay their sleeping.
I gently got up and out of bed,
And around it went silently creeping.
In the darkness you lay so still,
Your face against your pillow.
As the ceiling fan gently blew your hair,
Like a breeze whispering through a willow.
The comforter rose and fell again,
As your lungs took in and let out air.
And in the moment my heart did leap,
At your beauty oh so rare.

And it only gets better in the sunlight! Love you sweetie and thanks for not getting mad when the alarm goes off so early so I can get up and walk! Your the best.

Proper Alignment

2008-10-12T15:08:00.000-05:00

Ever driven a vehicle that had a lousy front-end alignment. No, I'm not just talking about the ones that will veer right or left if you let go of the steering wheel, I'm talking the ones where at slower speeds the car literally shakes as the two front wheels want to go in different directions. The only way to stop the shaking is to either stop the car or get going fast enough that the tires are moving so quickly forward they can no longer pull to the right or left. (And no, I'm not recommending you do this) That is a car in desperate need of an alignment. If you don't get the alignment fixed, you'll soon be losing tires, possibly as you drive and that is a recipe for disaster.

How about our lives? Do our lives ever get so far out of whack that we are literally shaking as we try and live out each day? Is our heart and soul pulling us one way while our mind and sinful nature tugging us another? Yes, it happens to all of us from time to time, perhaps even more often than it does to our cars, but human alignment is something a doctor or psychologist can fix. Just like the car, not fixing the alignment in our lives can cause uneven wear and tear and eventually lead us to a disaster.

Psalm 62:1-2 (NIV) states ~"My soul finds rest in God alone; my salvation comes from him. He alone is my rock and my salvation; he is my fortress, I will never be shaken."

In God alone comes proper alignment. By grace, through faith, we are saved, we are brought into proper alignment by Jesus the Messiah's death upon the Cross and that is the only way we "WILL NEVER BE SHAKEN!"

Idiom-etry 101

2008-10-10T22:36:00.003-05:00

If ignorance is bliss, would you know that it was?

If absences makes the heart grow fonder, why are two heads better than one?

Are slips of the tongue more likely when the drinks are on the rocks?

Would you really want to taste any but your own medicine?

If were all in the same boat, how can variety be the spice of life?

Why can't you cry over spilt milk yet you can argue if the glass was half empty or full?

If you don't let sleeping dogs lie, will they always get up on the wrong side of the bed?

How come the road never gets any of the ones for it?

If your back's up against the wall, at least you know you won't have to bend over backwards!

OK...BACK ON TRACK

2008-10-09T20:30:00.000-05:00

My diet derailed over the summer, I had been at least maintaining my new weight though but need to get back on the horse and get busy getting healthier. The new assault begins Monday