Ten Cents' Worth

2007-01-22T00:02:00.000-05:00

Family Portraits

2006-09-05T09:57:00.000-04:00

Recently, Naomi got together with her cousins Coleen and Katina for an amateur photoshoot. She wanted some 3-month pictures of Chloe, and some pictures of the girls, who are growing up so fast. I managed to talk my way out of being there, as I needed to go thrift store shopping for some shirts. Good thing, too, as it took them all day. When I got back, they still weren't done! Anyway, some of the pictures turned out really well. I chose a few to resize and email, and then I thought I should post a few here. Enjoy!

I still am in awe at the blessings God has entrusted to me!

Cyber-cafe Evangelism-- An Out-of-the-Box Ministry Idea

2006-09-05T09:40:00.000-04:00

This is a post that I had put on MennoDiscuss a good while back. I realize that some readers here don't go to MD, so I wanted to throw this out here for discussion.

For the last year or so, I have been increasingly aware of a need in the
community where I live. I live in a county that has nothing to offer Junior High
School, High School, and College students in regards to extracurricular
activities. I mean other than normal sports during the seasons. They have
nowhere to go. No movie theaters, no gym, no places of any kind that provide any
entertainment for teens. The kids in my town hang out in a few places, and move
back and forth, as encouraged by the police patrols through the community. The
kids get told to break up their informal parking lot party and move on, and they
go to the other spot, where, eventually, they are told the same thing, and they
go back to the other.

Alcohol is a HUGE problem in my community. Underage kids get it from older
siblings, or parents who don't care, or don't pay attention. Drugs is an
increasingly scary situation. We have teens pulling mushrooms off cowpatties in
pastures, and brewing them into hallucinogenic teas. Recently, our local paper
published an article stating the teen pregnancy situation in our county. 60 out
of 1000 of teens ages 15-17 have become pregnant, as compared to the 40.1 out of
1000 average for the state. That is 49.6% more pregnancies than the state
average. The article further stated that in our county 30.6% of the babies born
were to mothers with less than 12 years of education, as compared to 23.5%
across the state.

Girls want to be Brittney Spears. Boys want to be Eminem, or whoever is the
bad boy of rap currently. Schools realize the problem, but are limited to
secular methods to deal with it. Our schools CIS program (Communities In
Schools), which is spearheading the public school abstinence program, recently
was awarded a 3-year, $82,000 abstinence grant to start an after-school program
that provides a safe "Teen Scene" for children ages 10-18 who are unsupervised
when they get home from school. While the main focus would be abstinence, the
students would also receive academic assistance, mentoring, exposure to the
arts, and teaching in the areas of team building, leadership, motivation,
socialization, and recreation. This program starts at 3:30 with tutoring and
homework help until 6:00, after which will follow a couple hours of recreational
sports and fun.

Sounds great, right. I am glad something is being done. But I have real
reservations regarding its effectiveness. A need like the one I have described
needs more than an after-school program. It needs a Christ-centered ministry to
bring God to these teens, and get to the "heart" of the problems.

We need a "Whit's End"!

Ok, maybe not that exactly. I have no idea how to build an Imagination
Station, or a Room of Discovery, and I am not sure I want to sell ice cream. But
I really feel like God has given me an idea of what could be, if I just followed
His direction in this. But where to start? Imagine, if you will, a Youth Center,
with a coffee/soda/snack counter, filtered wireless Internet access, couches,
chairs, tables, pool table, table tennis, a few unassuming video game machines,
a book-swap section, Christian music (read that how you wish), adult supervision
with volunteer Christian youth as mentors and assistants, maybe a place outside
for volleyball or basketball, a few picnic tables.

A partnership program with local churches, local law enforcement, and
parents that would prohibit the presence and use of alcohol, drugs, or sex. A
strict adherence to the rules as set by the Youth Center administration, with
accountability by the teens built-in to the rule system. An effective
communication system between the adult supervisors and parents that enables fast
and effective resolution of issues. A place kids would like and feel safe in. A
place parents would be thrilled to send their kids to. A place troubled teens
could turn to for help or advice, or more importantly, friendship and an
introduction to Jesus Christ.

This program I envision would be unapologetically Christ-centered, and
would likely be ignored by some. However, if the kids think that the volunteers
and administrators really care about them, they'll want to bring their friends.
Word would get around, and curious teens would swing into the parking lot to see
what's going on.

But how to start? I have no idea how to implement this vision. I know that
many of the features of this ministry would be difficult and/or complicated to
accomplish. Some of my ideas would even be considered "risque" by fellow church
members (like Christian music, or video games, or internet, or all of it, for
that matter). Ok, I have opened up and made myself vulnerable. Now you can
comment and tell me how crazy I am, and how I need to get some sleep. Or you
could offer ideas, encouragement, (money) , or whatever, to create a discussion
on this subject.

Introducing.....(drum roll, please)....

2006-05-26T16:02:00.000-04:00

Chloe Alison Yates!

She was born Wednesday afternoon, weighed 5 lb, 10 1/2 oz, and was 18 1/2 inches long. Naomi, Chloe, and I came home around 12:30 today, and are looking forward to some rest, (and our own bed). Why can't manufacturers make hospital beds and pullout beds more comfortable?

This is Chloe, sucking her thumb, on Wednesday evening. Gonna have to break that habit, but right now it's cute!

Here's the very proud daddy on Thursday evening, while Md-Hopeful and his wife, my sister, Lezlie, were visiting. (Incidentally, one of my wife's nurses helped us find a nickname for Chloe. Brenna is "Punkinhead", and Olivia is "Little Bit". The nurse looked at Chloe and said, "You ain't no bigger'n a butterbean!" And there it was...."Butterbean!")

Chloe on the left, Kaylie on the right; Kaylie has a month on her first cousin, and it shows!

Grandma is getting Chloe out of her sleeper, preparing her to leave the hospital.

My beautiful wife and daughter, just before we leave the hospital.

Thank you, God, for all these blessings! I am a rich man, for, while possessing little, my heart is full to overflowing for the joys of my beautiful family.

A New Skidlid (and other unimportant developments)

2006-05-02T19:39:00.000-04:00

I recently won this LAS Kripton helmet on Ebay. The fit is great, it's definitely more visible, and the quality is much better than my old Walmart lid! The shades are cheap ones from Dollar General. I figure I'll probably sit on them at some point, so why buy good ones?

And, I think Olivia may be destined to be a hair stylist. She just needs to work on her methods a little. That and get a brush with soft bristles!

And here is a picture I snapped of the 2006 Tour de Georgia winner Floyd Landis, aka "The Mennonite Rider", during the signin period before Stage 1 of said race. No, I did not meet him, but he seemed like a very nice guy. One thing I did observe....while he may no longer be a Mennonite and lives in California, he still sounds like he's from Lancaster County, PA!

I'm Stunned!

2006-04-03T18:27:00.000-04:00

Got my May '06 Bicycling magazine today. Of course, I have been looking forward to reading it, but I was unprepared for what I found within its glossy pages. Observe the circled item.....

This is a really big deal to me, as I have tried to get quoted here many times!

Minivan Man

2006-04-02T22:06:00.000-04:00

That's right. I'm a soccer dad....whatever that is. Naomi, the girls, and I made a rush trip to Virginia to buy a 2002 Chevy Venture Warner Bros. edition minivan from my friend, and 2-time cousin-in-law Linford Berry, who is the proprietor of Pleasant Valley Auto Sales. He is currently involved in moving his family and business over to Dayton, VA, so he is taking a brief sabbatical from auto sales. However, I will encourage you to look him up later, as he did a wonderful job finding a minivan meeting our "stringent" requirements. (Naomi had a very detailed list of what she wanted. She had to sacrifice her color preference, but at the price, it was worth it.)

We drove north on Sunday morning, March 26, and got to my parents' place about 2 pm. We had lunch, took naps, and then went to church at Ebenezer Mennonite that evening. The next morning, Naomi and I got up early enough to leave by 6:00, leaving the girls with their grandmother for the day. Yay for her, and yay for us! We reached the Shenandoah Valley after a beautiful drive, and handed the keys to our car to Naomi's cousin, Jason, who would be following his folks home to GA that morning. It was amazing to me how God worked all that out for us, so that we wouldn't have to drive two vehicles home on Tuesday.

Then we got to see "our" minivan. Linford was cleaning and doing some touchup on the exterior when we got there, so we got our stuff out of the car so Jason could leave, and began putting everything in the van. We didn't even own the van yet and it was already messy and cluttered with our stuff! Then we went for a test drive. Smooth, stable, comfortable (so far), with plenty of room....we were LIKING this!

When we got back to Linford's office, his wife, Judith, who is my first cousin, Judith was there with their daughter, Lanette. They walked me through paperwork, I signed beside a bunch of X'es, signed a check, and that Chevy was now ours. I also bought a 2-year/25k mile warranty...after all, I have been a Mopar and Ford man all my life, I don't know what might happen!

Then we went with Linford's out for lunch at Pano's, a restaurant that seemed very popular with the law enforcement crowd. When I saw all the police officers, I knew the food was good! It was, too. I would say it was one of the best, most reasonably priced places I have been in. Pano's has my stamp of approval! After that, we drove back to my parents, had supper with them, and went to bed. Tuesday would be a long day!

On Tuesday morning, we got up, dressed and ate breakfast, then went to the Windmill Farm Bake Shop, owned by Nathan and Mildred Good. I wanted to get the latest Voice of Praise album, "Deliverance", but I also stumbled across the new Tapestry recording, and AHQ's "Purpose". I bought a copy of each. Then I had to get one of the Bake Shop's massive cinnamon rolls, and some cookies, and a chocolate brownie, and some more cookies, and some sandwiches.

Hey, it was for lunch! And we still had stuff left on Wednesday... so there!

Anyway, we drove back to GA, getting home before too late. I am glad I don't have to take fast trips like that very often, as I spent a good portion of 3 days driving. I was tired!

So, current opinion of the Venture? Excellent gas mileage and range (25.5 mpg and climbing, 600+ miles range), excellent sound system (6-cd changer,....ahem...dvd player, AV jacks for my mp3 player), good ride (Michelin tires with 70% tread left, air suspension), fair seating (I bought a back pad for myself, and now the seating is great), and good mechanical condition ( I will have to have the A/C repaired, as the condenser has a leak, and we noticed that one of the dash lights is out, and one of the backup lights is out. The A/C is under the warranty I bought (see, I did need it!), and I think I can fix the backup light myself. The dash light is the one I am concerned about, although it illuminates the gas gauge, so no big deal if I don't fix it right away.) We like it. It will take some getting used to, as sometimes the minivan seems smarter than me, and I have to figure out the right combination of switches to do what I want. We'll get the hang of it.

Adopted

2006-04-02T17:42:00.000-04:00

I thought since my illustrious fellow blogger, ITF, posted a review of VOP's new album, "Deliverance", I would share a few thoughts about a cd that was handed to me by a co-worker. Admittedly, I don't know any of the singer/musicians, but I still feel led to recommend this group and their work.

The cd I heard was "In His Presence" by Adopted, a quartet of instrument-playing young ladies. While the songs were accompanied by violin, keyboard, guitar, and bass, I did not feel that the accompaniment in any way detracted from the message of the songs. I love acappella, but I also enjoy good accompanied music, and this definitely qualifies. I enjoyed the poignant strains of the violin, and the flourishes of sound on the keyboard.

The vocalists were talented, as well. I generally prefer male quartets, simply because these allow me to sing along in a comfortable range. These ladies harmonize well, and simply. There are no complex chordings that lean on the instrumentation to make them work. These songs could be sung acappella without a hitch. The only thing that really stood out to me was some of the extremely high pitches of the harmony parts.

One song I especially appreciated was "The Air I Breathe", written by Marie Barnett in 1995. I have heard this song sung by a big name Christian Contemporary artist, and enjoyed it, but this was WAY better. The piano accompaniment was excellent, and the vocal harmony was tight, worshipful....I got chills. All my favorite worship songs do that to me.

Adopted now has a new album out, entitled "Love So Amazing", and I hope to get a copy sometime in the future. Check them out, and listen to the song clips. The download time is very short, and I think you will be impressed.

Sharing the Stage at the Purvis Community Center

2006-03-17T17:42:00.000-05:00

Last Saturday, Eternal Revenue had the privilege to share the stage with a veteran gospel quartet, the New Jerusalem Singers of Hephzibah, GA. This group has been around for almost fifteen years, giving programs mostly in the southern states in churches and other public locations. How we both ended up on the same stage the same night closing the program together with "Amazing Grace", is quite a story.

It seems that their first tenor, "Skip", is a deacon in his congregation, and he and his wife were visiting a sick member at University Hospital. While Skip was in the room with his sick friend, his wife waited outside and began speaking with the nurse/assistant nurse, and somehow, Skip's love for the Lord and music was mentioned. The nurse shared how he enjoyed good music, and that he, too, was in an all-male group, a quintet, that had been singing together for about 10 months.

You can probably guess who the nurse was!

Anyway, that was the initial point that led to ER and NJS being in Thomson, GA at the Purvis Community Center.

Not really sure what the Community Center used to be, but the building has been there a while! The stage is located in line with the door on the right, behind the car. "Behind the scenes" doesn't nearly describe what is going on in the wing behind the stage. There is a makeshift lunch counter where several ladies will sell you hamburgers or hotdogs until they run out..... which they did, just before I got there! However, my wonderful wife shared some of her snack with me, so I was able to last until we got to Wendy's late that evening.

After we arrived, the fellows of both groups began preparing the stage and equipment. My part of that involved opening and assembling the music stands ER uses. NJS had to set up their sound system, and hook in their laptop with the canned music. After the program was over, they were jealously looking at the small pile of folded stands in my arm and muttering about the "simplicity of acappella singing". We, on the other hand very much enjoyed the treat of not having to "push" our voices so hard to reach the back of the room!

The New Jerusalem Singers opened the program, singing for about 15 minutes, until Skip, who had been suffering bronchitis-like symptoms for about three weeks, had to stop. Then he introduced us as we took our places and picked up our microphones. We started with "Highest Place", which some of you may have heard from one of Voice of Praise's more recent albums, "Resting in His Grace." We sang quite a few songs in the first standing, one of them being an arrangement of "Just a Closer Walk" , as arranged by my co-baritone/pinch-hitter brother-in-law, Kenneth Barnhart. He is the one in the very center, right beside me.

A funny thing about that solo.... When we got to it, I dove in as I was accustomed to, not even noticing until nearly the end of that stanza that Kenneth was singing along. Thinking that he had just forgotten, I shrugged it off and we finished the song. The next song, "Old Time Religion", was where I realized what had actually happened. I reached the third verse and began the baritone lead, and...BAM!...I was singing alone, as I was supposed to. The other solo wasn't supposed to be mine, I was the one who forgot! Kenneth was very gracious about it, though, when I apologized later.

Soon it was time for NJS to do their second standing. I am not sure where this clip came in, but you should listen to them, anyway. Poor Skip was doing all he could to hold those high notes, or the "purty part", as Titus describes it. Bill, the bass, did a very nice job hitting those low notes, and he didn't need to stick the mike in his mouth to reach a note as I have seen some basses do. Ken and Ken did a very nice job of swapping the lead and baritone parts. No, I didn't stutter, two of the guys have the same first name.

Next, we had our second standing, and following that, both the New Jerusalem Singers and Eternal Revenue stood side by side, singing "Amazing Grace", accompanied by all the fine people that came to hear some good music. A fitting end to a wonderful time!

I would encourage you to visit the New Jerusalem Singers' website. Their sound man and manager, Larry, who also happens to be one of the Ken's dad, has posted pictures in their photo gallery. His shots are much better, as the flash on his digital camera reached on out there. Just click on the top entry. Be sure to look for the white hanging veil! That would be my lovely wife! I have almost decided to hire Olivia and Brenna as Eternal Revenue's PR team, especially Olivia. She was all over the room, making friends, climbing up in old ladies' laps, you name it.

Effusive expressions of gratitude go out to my good buddy, Tom, for his technical advisory role in creating and posting the video clips of our program. When you come to Georgia, man, I'm buying the first iced tea!

Fed Up with FedEx

2006-03-15T21:28:00.000-05:00

Something came up at work today. My boss thinks I am paranoid about shipping companies. He may be right. Whenever I win something on Ebay or order something online, I always request a tracking number so I can check on my package's progress at least once if not multiple times. Partly because I cannot stand the suspense of waiting to see when it would arrive, and partly because I know what shipping companies can do with a package.

Take Monday for example: I waited at work, filling my time by doing some stuff on the computer that I have been trying to get done, figuring that Fedex would be a little late. No one shows, so I leave a note to leave my package next door, which has been standard practice for years. However, I know it's on the truck, because the scan said so. When I checked later, the tracking site said that the truck came through while I was there! Our business was closed, but my car was in the parking lot. I was miffed, to say the least.

So on Tuesday, I came in to work midafternoon, finished some other projects, and managed to catch the driver this time. Finally got a 1gb SD card for this Dell I am writing on! For $25 bucks with the mail-in rebate, at that!

Now I am waiting for a carrying case for my Dell, and a special edible ink printer for the bakery. And I check the status on those regularly!

One thing I do know, after dealing with Fedex, UPS, and the USPS, I would pick UPS first every time. And the USPS second, with Fedex coming far behind the Pony Express of the 1800's. The sad thing is that more companies seem to be using Fedex as their default carrier. At least if I put it on a brown truck, I can be fairly confident that what I shipped will arrive on time, in one piece.

But I would still check the status of my shipment.

{End of rant}

2006-03-14T21:40:00.000-05:00

Once again posting from my Axim, which can be tedious, but kinda fun, I am slowly learning how to use this thing. Right now, I am using the letter recognizer input method, which seems faster than the virtual keyboard. Slowly but surely, I am getting this thing customized and configured to my preferences . I have changed all the hot keys to programs I use regularly, and have loaded several freeware applications that I downloaded off the internet, Pocketblog being one of them. This program works by caching posts, and when I plug my Dell into its cradle and connect my desktop to the internet, the post is sent to Blogger when I click update. Cool, huh?

2006-03-14T08:54:00.000-05:00

I am attempting to post this from my Pocket PC. I have a post about a recent ER program that I will share in the near future.

Valentine's Day--A Redneck Perspective

2006-02-19T12:36:00.000-05:00

Someone brought an email printout of this poem to work last week. I thought I would share it, although I changed a few lines to make better sense. Who says rednecks ain't romantic?

Redneck Love

Collards is green,
My dog’s name is Blue
And I’m so lucky to have
A sweet thang like you!
Yore hair is like corn silk
a-flappin in the breeze,
Softer than Blue’s
An’ widout all them fleas.

You move like the bass,
Which excite me in May.
You ain’t go no scales
But I luv you anyway.
Yo’re as satisfy’n as okry
Jist a-fry’n in the pan.
Yo’re as fragrant as snuff
Right out of the can.

You have some a yore teeth
For which I am right proud;
I hol’ my head high
When we’re in a crowd.
On speshul occasions
When you shave under yore arms,
Well, I’m in hawg heaven
And awed by yore charms.

Still them fellers at work,
They all want to know,
What I did to deserve
Such a Purdy young doe.
Like a good roll of duck tape,
Yo’re there for yore man,
To patch up life’s trubbles
An fix whut you can.

Yo’re as cute as a June bug
a-buzzin’ overhead
Y’ain’t mean like them far aints
I found in my bed.
Cut from the best cloth
Like a plaid flannel shirt
If you was a food
You’d be the dessert.

When you hold me real tight
Like a padded gun rack,
My life is complete,
Ain’t nuttin’ I lack.
Yore compecksiun, it’s purfexion,
Like the best vinyl sidin’.
Despite all the years
Yore age, it keeps hidin’.

Me-n-you’s like a Moon Pie
With a RC cole drank,
We go together
Like a skunk goes with stank.
Some men,
They buy choclit for Valentimes day
They git it in Walmart
Its romantic that way.

Some men git roses
On that speshul day
From the cooler at Kroger
That’s impressive, I say.
Some men buy fine dimonds
From a flea market booth.
“Dimonds are forever”
With them bills, it’s the truth!

But for this man, honey,
These just won’t do.
Cause yore too speshul,
You sweet thang, you!
I got you a gift,
Without taste ner odor,
More useful than dimonds
IT’S A NEW TROLLIN’ MOTOR!

--Author unknown

It Was My Turn To Plan Valentine's, So I....

2006-02-14T18:36:00.000-05:00

...really went overboard!

(but it has always been worth it!)

Naomi and I have had a practice of taking turns planning our Valentine's Day celebration, and this year was my opportunity to really pull all the stops and really spoil her. I rarely get to give Naomi the "royal treatment" because of financial limitations, but I decided to allocate a small portion of our income tax return to treating her to some pretty nice experiences. It kinda went like this...

I like to surprise her with gifts and treats, but she has never been one to like BIG surprises. Matter of fact, when I took her to her bridal shower without telling her what was going on, I almost got in trouble with her. So, as I was planning our "Event", I let her know that I was planning something pretty special, and spiced it up by telling her about the responses of others to whom I had revealed my plans. This way, it wouldn't come out of nowhere. Besides, I like teasing her, just to see how she tries fishing for info before the "Big Event"!

In addition, since I am off work on Mondays and Tuesdays, I decided to do everything on February 13, since I make a half-hearted attempt to be in bed early on Tuesday nights before work on Wednesday. So....

...on Monday morning, I got up and fixed breakfast and coffee, finished packing a few necessary items for our special day, and got the family in the car by almost 11 AM. Naomi knew we were dropping the girls off at a babysitter, she just didn't know who, or for how long. (hint, hint!) So, we dropped Brenna and Olivia off at Mdhopeful's with my sister, and we went to lunch at O'Charley's, where Naomi finally had the Black and Bleu Steak Caesar Salad she had been craving, and I had the catfish and fries from the lunch menu. We really like this restaurant, and, judging by the crowd, we aren't the only ones.

During our meal, I finally revealed part of my plan for Naomi when I gave her a nice, sentimental, gushy Valentine's card. Inside was a gift certificate to Paradise Island Day Spa for a Relax and Restore Spa Package, which included a 30-min. massage, a manicure, and a pedicure. Talk about surprised! And, incidentally, the spa was only a quarter mile down the road. So, after the paperwork was filled out, I left her at the spa, and departed to finalize preparations she had yet to learn about!

I had to find a long-stemmed red rose. There was a Winn-Dixie across the shopping center parking lot, but it was out of business. Michael's was next door, and I managed to find a rosebud that wouldn't wilt...yeah, it's artificial, but so what! It can be the gift that keeps on giving, or something. Then I drove over to our next destination, Augusta Suites Inn, to do some decorating prior to bringing Naomi there. I had made reservations for a Jacuzzi Suite, which we had used a couple of years ago, but this time with my own touch.

I had bought a 500-piece box of Wilton's Red Flower Petals a week before, and stashed it in my dove-hunting bucket in the garage. Those got scattered on the carpet, on the bed, around the jacuzzi, and the long-stem rose was placed on the pillow. I checked the thermostats, and then went to look for some food and refreshments.

Just so happens, a couple hundred yards down the street is a Dunkin' Donuts, right next to a Starbucks, actually. So I stocked up on an iced coffee roll, an apple fritter, and two butternut-coated cake donuts. Yeah, yeah, I work in a bakery, where's my company loyalty, right? Hey, we were closed! Call it "industrial espionage", if you like, or "market research", if that was too "Tom Clancy-ish" for you. Then I went a little further and found a Publix Supermarket, where I bought both red and white Welch's Sparkling Grape Juice. Then I carried my goodies back to the hotel, and went to pick up Naomi.

She was done being massaged, clipped, buffed, polished, and otherwise pampered, and was glowing. I should have done this years ago! Anyway, while she ecstatically described her relaxing experience, I drove her to one of the fabric shops which we had discussed on our way into town. Did I mention it was just a jog down the street from our hotel? When we left the shop, I asked her if she wanted any Dunkin' Donuts, since it was just down the street. She didn't want any donuts, but was quite shocked when I turned into the hotel parking lot.

Anyway, to finally bring this tale to a close, we dined that evening at the Snug, which is the first restaurant we went to together when we started dating. Romantic, yes, but Naomi's stomach was a little unsettled, so she ended up ordering a side order of mashed potatoes, and I had the "Cajun Canoe", a wonderful mix of Italian sausage, shrimp, and chicken on fettucini. Naomi then ordered a small steak and steamed vegetables for take-out.

Afterwards, we returned to our hotel. This morning we enjoyed the complimentary breakfast, and dawdled until the 11:00 checkout time. Then we left and did some shopping and finally picked up the girls around 3. A wonderful time, but I am glad to be home. Naomi said the hotel bed was too hard, which kept her from sleeping well, so she is looking forward to sleeping in our own bed tonight.

The only really bummer thing was that the jacuzzi in our room didn't work. That really wasn't cool, but we were too tired to make an issue of it. The management said that they would give us a discount the next time we wanted to stay there. Not holding my breath, right?

Well, for those of you that were despairing of my writing another post, hopefully there won't be quite such a long gap between posts in the future. Hopefully...

Friday is the 13th!

2006-01-11T21:28:00.000-05:00

Does that scare you?

I have never been the superstitious type, but for some reason, this one is unnerving. I don't suppose the fact that it is also my birthday on Friday, or that I am taking the seemingly momentous step into my thirties.

Let's face it: I will be thirty years old, and what have I accomplished? I have a wonderful wife, and two beautiful daughters, and we are anticipating another child in June. It is exciting to see where God has directed my life, but what have I done for Him?

I feel a midlife crisis approaching...10 years too early.

I remember another momentous birthday WAY back when. It also was Friday the 13th. That was the year I turned 13! It was also the day we moved from NC to VA. At the time, having to leave my friends and school seemed pretty unlucky, but looking back, I realize that it was a GOOD thing.

Maybe turning 30 will look different from the perspective of looking back.

Incidentally, Happy Belated New Year! Go share Christ's love with someone, for time is running out.

Guess What?

2005-12-27T16:48:00.000-05:00

My wonderful wife has been queasy for the last 15 weeks. Hopefully the next 25 won't be quite so bad.

*grin*

God is SO GOOD!

Give 'Em a Cow!

2005-12-09T18:49:00.000-05:00

I received an email today that included this thought. I am not sure what prompted it, but it is interesting.

"Is it just me, or does anyone else find it amazing that our
government can track a cow born in Canada almost three years ago,
right to the stall where she sleeps in the state of Washington. They
also tracked her calves to their stalls ... but they are unable to locate
11 million illegal aliens wandering around our country. Maybe we should
give them all a cow."

"Hello, Onstar. How may I help you?"

"This is the federal gubment. We need a location on Joe Nobody's cow."

Mmmmoooooooo.

Despair, Inc

2005-12-06T19:52:00.000-05:00

I realize that as a Christian, I should be looking for ways to encourage others. However.....

I stumbled across Despair, Inc. and was reduced to hysterical tears as I read their lithographs and notecards, coffee mugs, etc. While not very encouraging, they are VERY funny! I kept thinking of people I wanted to send these to...you know, coworkers, family members.

Go read...now.

Eternal Revenue Quintet

2005-12-04T18:50:00.000-05:00

That's right, we have added another member to the group. Kenneth, Titus's brother and my bro-in-law has just returned from Guatemala this week, and attended his first practice this afternoon. It was fortunate he was here, as I have almost completely lost my voice to a head cold and the various congestions that follow such. So we introduced him to the Christmas songs we are learning and he picked them up rather quickly. I was impressed. I look forward to his contributions to ER, especially since he has a talent for arranging music. This talent will not be wasted, not if I have anything to say about it. I plan to drop a pile of music in his lap soon for him to start adapting to men's voices.

Muuaahahahahah! *grin*

Fresh Ground Coffee, now Available at Pineland Bakery!

2005-11-27T13:24:00.000-05:00

Thanks to a contact made at MennoDiscuss, our bakery is now carrying Fog Mountain Coffee as a self-serve beverage, and will soon be offering the fresh-roasted beans as a retail product, as well. Our first two weeks selling coffee have gone fairly well, although I hope to see considerable growth as the winter months progress.

The Coffee
Our coffee is Costa Rican, and at this point consists of a light roast, a dark roast, and a decaf version. I started with brewing the light roast, but have since created my own blend of the light and dark roasts. This has been well-accepted, so I am satisfied, at this point. We will always be primarily a bakery, so don't look for all the different coffee blends, roasts, and associated beverages as served by a coffee shop. No espresso, or cappuccino, although we are toying with the idea of making hot chocolate and mix cappuccino available.

The Equipment
Currently, I am grinding the coffee each morning, using a simple grinder similar to the ones you see in grocery stores. I like it, though, and I grind the beans on the finest auto-drip setting. I brew the coffee in a pour-over Bunn-omatic brewer. This is a great brewer, although I plan to use an automatic brewer with a water-line hookup in the future. As soon as the coffee is brewed, I dump the grounds, and pour the coffee into prepped airpots, which keep the coffee hot and fresh for up to 8 hours. (Actually, I have poured out coffee that had been in the airpot for 24 hours that was still piping hot and steaming!) These airpots enable me to have coffee made in reserve to get me past the morning rush, so that I won't have to be pulled from waiting on the customers to brew more coffee. Our dairy and juice supplier talked us into trying a refrigerated Creamer Center that utilizes French Vanilla nondairy creamer and Half-and-Half in 2-liter bags. We thought we would find it cost-effective, but so far, it has been a disappointment, as well as taking up too much table space. That will probably go soon. We are serving the coffee in 12, 16, and 20-ounce Dixie PerfecTouch cups, which are very good quality. They are insulated paper cups with an attractive coffee design that looks upscale, and don't leave that styrofoam aftertaste! Our prices are $1.35, $1.65, and $1.95, respectively.

If you're in the neighborhood, come on by and try it out!

The Immutability of God

2005-11-27T13:16:00.000-05:00

Today, the visiting minister shared a sermon on God's unchangeable nature. He made a statement that seemed rather unremarkable on the surface, but as I meditated on it, became extremely profound.

"Nothing ever happens to God."

Think about that.

Redneck Camper

2005-11-07T19:03:00.000-05:00

Naomi and I saw this a couple of weeks ago. I wonder if you can list the different elements the builder used to make this unique truck camper. No fair listing the window unit, though. That's too easy!

My Wife Is More Precious than Fine Rubies

2005-11-02T21:10:00.000-05:00

This is what Naomi was working on when I got home from work. Both of my girls have bad head colds, runny noses, you name it. Naomi told me on the phone this afternoon that her head felt like it was full of a ton of bricks. Headache, her stomach hurt, tired. And yet she made a apple pie with my Great-Aunt Mary Good's recipe.

Thank you, God, for this fabulous woman!

And, now, I think I will pour a glass of milk and have a slice of pie. Try not to lick your screens, folks! *grin*

A Test to Clear Up Some Confusion

2005-10-31T23:36:00.000-05:00

Here, go take this test and see how you score. Let me know what you score and what they say about you.

Oh, and btw, "84% (Dixie). Do you still use Confederate money?" is what I scored.

Yeeeehawww! "Just a good ole boys, never meanin no harm....." That Dukes of Hazzard theme song probably had it about right.

A Valuable Coffee Tip

2005-10-31T21:09:00.000-05:00

As Naomi and I were shopping in the ***mart Supercenter last Tuesday, I remembered I needed more powdered creamer at home. So, while she was browsing the fabric section, I drifted across the store to the coffee aisle. What do you know but they had a nice Millstone coffee display, complete with grinder. So I looked at the different flavored coffees, the little one-pot bags, and picked out a few: Cinnamon Hazelnut, Raspberries and Cream, and Chocolate Velvet. The Cinnamon Hazelnut was pretty good, the Raspberries and Cream I should have left on the shelf, but the Chocolate Velvet is OuttaThisWorld! This morning, I brewed 10 cups of water, 1/4 cup of Chocolate Velvet, and 1/8 cup of ordinary French Roast Maxwell House. As soon as it is brewed, pour some into a large mug, and the rest into a thermos or airpot. Drink what is in the mug, refill, and nurse the remainder of the coffee along for the rest of the day. I had the last of my new-found favorite coffee at supper, and it was still very fresh. I think I am going to buy a larger bag of the Chocolate Velvet and make my own blend to keep for special occasions....like whenever I want!

While I'm on the subject of coffee, I am in the process of deciding on a coffee supplier for the bakery. We're planning on serving fresh-ground gourmet coffee to our customers...and I plan to drink some of course. Curtis has told me that this is "my baby"--which means I really, REALLY want it to succeed!

I Betcha Didn't Miss Me...

2005-10-27T19:40:00.000-04:00

I know, this is very overdue, but better late than never, right? Life is getting more hectic everyday, it seems. Deer season has begun, I have gotten back to riding my bike more regularly, the bakery is getting busier as we move into the holiday season, Eternal Revenue has an upcoming appearance at the Mennonite Fellowship meetings in Hartwell, GA, and .......

You get the idea. And those just occupy the time when I'm normally away from my computer. Lessee, for the times I was here, I was scrounging Ebay for bicycling bargains, researching said bargains via product reviews, watching the bidding progress, researching gourmet coffee companies prior to making a recommendation to the management team at the bakery, researching coffee itself, reading up on Georgia's own professional cycling team and the coffee they sell (two of my favorite things: cycling and coffee), trimming the ends off green beans, snapping green beans, perusing MennoDiscuss, commenting on said forum, and then going back to Ebay and starting the cycle again!

These are the results of too much wasted time carefully browsing through Ebay's cycling section:

These are Shimano SPD mountain bike pedals that have been used fairly extensively, but are in decent shape, especially for the price I paid. The bearings in one pedal are developing some slop, but I think that can be easily fixed.

This Serfas gel seat looks very cushy, and is designed for comfort. It will be a little heavy, but I am not a gram freak like some road racers. I just want to be relatively comfortable when I am groaning over the hills. I wanted a suspension seat post, but this may be better, since I ride in street clothes often.

This picture is a product shot, but is very accurate regarding what I bought. I love the colors. Yellow and black- my favorite combination! These are 2001 Specialized MTB Comp shoes, which retailed new at $100. The pair I won are also brand-new, but at a fraction of the MSRP. The cycling shoes and the pedals above should majorly improve my pedaling efficiency, and the gel seat will help me to be able to ride longer.

Incidentally, I have found a nice, little bike shop south of me a little ways. I found them while I was trying to locate a store that sold Jittery Joe's Coffee. They were out of coffee the first time I dropped by, so Naomi and I went down Tuesday afternoon, ate lunch at Sonny's BBQ, and stopped at the bike shop. They were still waiting on the coffee to be delivered, so I browsed, buying an inner tube, some chain lube, and some Schwinn stickers I dug out of a box full of miscellaneous stickers and graphics (very cool!). Guess I'll just have to go down there again, sometime... *grin* (I can waste hours in a bike shop, and still walk out emptyhanded...I just love looking at the STUFF!) Anyway, then we left the shop, went to Walmart and Save-A-Lot for some groceries, and headed back to Naomi's folks to pick up the girls. I enjoyed having some time with Naomi, by ourselves. It was sorta like when we were first married!

No, I wasn't paying attention!

2005-10-10T20:26:00.000-04:00

Tonight is Ladies' Bible Study Night, and I am at home with the girls. I failed to supervise them closely enough, as you can see. Olivia decided she wanted some of her mom's leftovers!

I should point out the background of the above picture. Some of you ought to be able to guess what I was doing! :)

Needless to say, Olivia was having a good time! Now my only question is whether to leave the mess for her mother to see, before I clean it up!

Chrome Rimsters

2005-10-08T22:19:00.000-04:00

Tom is always posting about the cool tour vehicles he finds around Hoosierville, and I have informed him that he hasn't seen anything yet! Well, now he can say he has.

I went cruising around town before I headed for home after work today with the express purpose of snagging some pics of some real "rimsters". These usually consist of a $400 car resting on a set of $1500 rims and having a $1800 paint job. That varies somewhat, as some of that money may be redirected into the sound system or a loud exhaust system.

There are some others out there that I know of, but didn't see today. More pictures of similar "rimsters" will be posted in the future, as they become available.

Incidentally, the "rimster" at the top has a spinning center section that keeps moving as the car sits still. This type of rim is the most desired, of course.

Another Cycling Accomplishment

2005-10-04T20:56:00.000-04:00

These images show what I accomplished this morning. You are looking at the cycling computer that attaches to a mount on my handlebar. It keeps track of my current speed, average speed, highest speed, elapsed time, mileage, and numerous other things. I rode 20 miles in one ride today, which is my personal best record, thus far.

I was tired when I got home, but victorious!

A Great Quote!

2005-09-27T12:08:00.000-04:00

I found this in a way-too-long discussion at MennoDiscuss and I thought it remarkable coming from someone who generally argues from the left.

"europe has been slathered in decades of stagnation and have terrible economy...they have almost no manufacturing outside of Germany...and are primarily service sector economies...(periphal markets)...never mind the fact here wouldn't be a europe if it wasn't for the USA...see Hitler and Stalin folks did we forget...we single-handedly protected them from dictatorship for the better part of 50 years spending untold millions so they can sit on the bloody park benches"

MennoDiscuss Forum!

2005-09-24T21:41:00.000-04:00

Finally, a forum for the non-technophobe Anabaptist! I would encourage anyone to check it out! Everyone is welcome, and I have already been blown away by the response to it! If you do register as a member, be sure to introduce yourself on the Introduction subject thread.

Well, I really need to go study the Sunday School lesson to prepare for teaching the youth class tomorrow. God bless!

Update: I have added a link to MennoDiscuss in my sidebar so that it is easily accessible. Those of you that are not Mennonite may find it interesting to read, and perhaps gain a better understanding of what makes us tick!

Prayer Request

2005-09-16T22:43:00.000-04:00

This Sunday evening, Eternal Revenue will be sharing a program at Hephzibah Mennonite Church. Burton and his family will be rushing back from VA to be there in time. He has been fighting chest and sinus congestion for two weeks, at least, and really struggled with his voice at our last practice. Please pray for their safety, and for his health, his voice in particular. Also pray for me, as I tend to be the slowest one at learning my notes. There are some new songs in the mix, and I probably have the least natural talent at picking up new songs. We are working on the songs we will be singing at the Hartwell Fellowship Meetings in Nov., also, as well as doing some preliminary work on some Christmas songs. We might consider doing a mini-tour near the beginning of next year, so get in touch with me if you'd like us to visit!

Heavy Thoughts

2005-09-11T12:52:00.000-04:00

I realized that I have been writing in a fairly serious vein for the last several posts, and that is probably a good thing. But I feel the need to do something frivolous and silly, so I'll post a few questions that will make you think.

Why are there interstate highways in Hawaii?

Why isn’t chocolate considered a vegetable since it comes from cocoa beans?

How much deeper would the ocean be if sponges didn't grow in it?

If, instead of talking to your plants, you yelled at them, would they still grow, only be troubled and insecure?

Why isn't there mouse-flavored cat food?

Why does Superman stop bullets with his chest, but ducks when you throw a revolver at him?

If at first you don't succeed, shouldn't you try doing it like your wife told you to do it?

Why are there braille dots on a drive-through ATM keypad?

Who was the idiot that decided to put an "s" in the word lisp?

And a final, deep question: Does a clean house indicate that there is a broken computer in it?

The Lordship of Jesus Christ

2005-09-10T20:36:00.000-04:00

As the youth Sunday School teacher in my congregation this quarter, I anticipated some rather good, deep lessons that makes you pull your toes way back in your shoes, and hope no one notices your own failings in applying those lessons. But the one for tomorrow is a doozy!

Our lesson booklet deviates from the International Sunday School lesson in its focus. The original lesson focuses on how the early believers interacted with one another and how they were so harmonious and generous. My lesson focuses on "Lordship Salvation". The lesson aim is : To understand that without lordship there is no salvation.

The teacher's section has some really powerful questions.

Where does Jesus fit into your life?
Does your life reveal faith in, and surrender to, Jesus?

These questions are immediately followed by this statement: "So many of us live for ourselves while being persuaded that the Lord demands nothing more."

Think about that for a while.

Now, consider this question. Does Jesus accept any level of disobedience or self-living? Why should He, considering He is Lord of All, and why do we ask, considering we are but His creation?

I think I'm gonna need steel-toe boots tomorrow morning, just to insure that my toes aren't irreparably damaged when they get stepped on.

My Take on Illegal Immigration

2005-09-10T17:14:00.000-04:00

I want to be clear on this. The United States of America is a land of opportunity and a haven of freedom to all people. To many people elsewhere in this world, the U.S.A. represents a form of Utopia. We know this is not the case, that the US has its own problems, but they pale to insignificance next to abject poverty, blatant government corruption, religious and ethnic persecution, and the like. Those wishing to come here realize that achieving a dream requires effort and determination, but here their efforts are more likely to bear fruit.

Therefore, I cannot blame someone for wanting to live and work in the US. However, I do feel that anyone wishing to live in this country, or ANY country, for that matter, should take the proper steps to enter legally. Perhaps the immigration regulations should be closely examined and revised, as many deserving people find it difficult to successfully pass the screening process.

That said, should I attempt to pass illegally through any sovereign nation's borders, I have absolutely no right to expect any consideration from the officials should I be apprehended. Dead or alive, my situation is as I made it. When I went with a returning chorus tour to Mexico in 1996, our group was held for several hours on the Mexican side because we did not have proper papers and were "illegal aliens". Our bus was surrounded by soldiers with automatic weapons, and we were told that we would be placed in jail. The paper work we were to have was not dealt with at three consecutive checkpoints going INTO the country, despite our tour leader's attempts to get someone to fill out the necessary forms. After our tour leader was informed that we would be released if a fine (read 'bribe') was paid, we scratched around $200 together and drove on.

And yet, the officials in Arizona think that the taxpayers should bear the burden of helping illegal aliens survive crossing the desert. Because why? This is just outrageous! The desert will take care of itself; no county government needs to feel obliged to intervene. Again, the consequences of an individual's actions should rest on that individual. It is not the responsibility of the government to either set up watering stations OR do complete autopsies and store the bodies of those who did not make it. They died of thirst and exposure. Duh! As Brad Stein says, "Put a helmet on!"

But here is the clincher. Should Average Joe Christian happen upon an illegal immigrant suffering from starvation or thirst or exposure, he has a moral obligation to try to meet that person's needs. Then he needs to report the situation to the authorities and Immigration officials need to deal with it.

I know, some of this sounds heartless. I truly am sympathetic of those who want to live in this beautiful land. This country is a melting pot of different cultures and has been the stronger for it. I think that melting pot needs the diversity, and this country has plenty of room for those who wish to be a positive contributor to the financial and moral fabric of this country. I feel that those who wish to live here should be willing to take the steps necessary to come here, but I do not think that those requirements should be unreachable.

Certainly I do not know everything about this issue. But the whole thing has reminded me that this country is not my final destination. I am planning to pass immigration into Glory someday, and I want to make sure I have all my requirements met.

Restoration Quartet

2005-09-03T20:30:00.000-04:00

My family and I just got back from Midville where we heard a good ole' gospel group sing. The Restoration Quartet, which does not have a website that I could find, sang some wonderful songs that I knew, and some wonderful ones I didn't know. They were very Southern, one of them being a former Burke Co. local boy, and the rest were from NC and TN originally. Now they all live in Florida, and attend the same church together. They sang "Who Am I", but in a slightly different arrangement than ER's version. I still wanted to jump up and help out. During intermission, when I spoke to the first tenor, he learned that the rest of ER had not been able to make it, and he said that he wished he could have gotten us up on the stage. The bass singer later said the same thing to me. If they ever show up in your area, and you're in the mood for some down-home Southern Gospel, go hear them and sing along.

And here's The Restoration Quartet...

Where I'm Coming From

2005-09-02T19:03:00.000-04:00

Some of you may have wondered what was motivating me to write this post and this post. If you'll take the time to visit Worthy Thinking, you'll gain a better understanding of the thoughts I have been wrestling with for several months. The article he quoted is wonderful in the way it cuts to the core of the problem facing us. I read it in between my posts, but it follows the same thought.

Did you make a difference for someone today?

Making a Difference

2005-09-01T20:58:00.000-04:00

A very good friend of mine told me something that has been drifting around in my mind for several months. He is currently an inmate at our local jail for a parole violation, waiting to be sent back to prison to serve another chunk of his sentence. I know, not typical to admit that a friend is also a convicted felon. But it's the truth and it has bearing on what I'm about to share.

He told me and others, "Once you're in the 'System', it's nearly impossible to ever shake loose from it." By 'System', he is referring to the Dept. of Corrections, and also all associations that stem from it. My friend became a Christian during the beginning of his original incarceration, and was mentored by my father-in-law during the next five years. After getting out on parole, he began attending our church, and very quickly became a dear friend and brother to us all. His life, his demeanor, everything, has been changed by the presence of the Holy Spirit in his heart.

He is truly a "free" man--freed as only God can grant freedom.

And yet he is still entangled in the 'System'. The wonderful thing is, he can still be free, even behind bars. But so many men and women who have been caught in the 'System' do not have this blessing.

The point he was making to the rest of us was this: In our tidy, quiet, Mennonite lives, we are unable to grasp the realities of growing up and living in an environment where lawlessness is the norm, where all your friends have rap sheets, where alcohol and drugs are the only escape being readily available, where being in jail is sometimes safer and more desirable than living in the street, where the likelihood of ex-cons and juvenile offenders repeating the same crimes is virtually guaranteed. We just can't seem to wrap our minds around the concept. I suppose that is a blessing, but ignorant naivete is foolhardy. We need to realize the true condition of the world. It really is not a safe, happy place for the majority of humanity. And this is the scope of the 'System'.

So many young men and women, caught doing wrong, are punished and then are released back into the public, where they take up where they left off--with the same crowd, in the same neighborhood, facing the same pressures to do again what got them arrested the first time. They've got no one to show them the alternative.

Unfortunately, in our state, or in our county, anyway, there is no "Halfway" program to help these people to make the transition from delinquent youth or ex-con to upstanding citizen. And so these men and women continue to enter the jail in shackles, both on their wrists and on their souls.

My friend wanted me to understand that these people need what he needed. Someone to introduce them to Jesus Christ, someone to talk to, someone to disciple them, someone who cares about them. Someone to be like Jesus was to the Samaritan woman, or to Zacchaeus.

The difficult thing for me to accept is that I can start making a difference today. The young men with their pants halfway to their knees, who listen only to their gangsta rap; or the young ladies in the midriff-baring t-shirts and shorts; or the redneck punks with tobacco in their lower lip; or the out-patients from the mental health clinic down the street; or even the high-strata blueblood with old money and prizewinning bird dogs-- all of them are people I see and talk to every day. So what hinders me from taking the plunge?

Pride. Fear. Condemnation. Bigotry. Not a very nice self-image, is it?

May God give us a vision for reaching the lost souls in our communities, and then prod us until we muster our courage and start making a difference.

But it starts with one.

Shots

2005-08-29T09:43:00.000-04:00

Naomi scheduled a doctor appointment for both of the girls today. She purposely picked a day I was off work because both girls needed shots and she wanted some backup. Bleeehh! Not my idea of fun!

Brenna's a little freaked out about the shots and is scared spitless. Yesterday, she fell on the concrete in the garage, and scuffed her knee. Very minor, but she went hysterical. And when Naomi got out the hydrogen peroxide to clean the tiny scrape, she FREAKED. I had to physically restrain her so she wouldn't interfere with Naomi's efforts. So if that was a taste of what I'll have to experience this afternoon, I'm not looking forward to it!

But, I told Brenna we would take them to the new Burke Co. Library and let her get some books. That should be fun for her, as she loves to look at books and hear stories. I am a true bookworm, and a regular library patron. Maybe I can take some pictures of our new library building and post them later. All kinds of new stuff available! Couches, comfy chairs, more computer access, wireless network for laptops, self-checkout (which is not fast enough), vending machines in the snack room (well, not yet, but they're coming!), and lots more.

Am I a "Christian Patriot?"

2005-08-23T10:08:00.000-04:00

First of all, a hat-tip to The Not-so-Daily Me for introducing me to Rare Jewel Magazine. I would encourage you to examine it closely. As with any publication dealing with Christianity, one may disagree with portions of what is written, but there is still something of value to be gained. I ran across an editorial in the Oct./Nov. edition of RJM that triggered this post, and I want to be certain to give credit where credit is due. I will be including quotations by the author of the editorial, but I want to point out that I do not agree with all of his points. I just want to use this as a springboard for discussion on the Christian's responsibility to effect change in the mores of our society.

First, a question: What role, if any, does the Christian play in directing the moral condition of the nation in which he is a citizen?

I see several elements coming into play here. There is the "Stranger and Pilgrim" mandate, wherein we acknowledge that we owe our allegiance to a higher citizenship, that of the Kingdom of God. Then, there is the "Salt and Light" mandate, as given by Christ, in which we act as a preservative and spiritual compass to unredeemed society. Next, we have the "in the world, but not of it" qualification, which seems to have different meanings, depending on whom you ask.

I have a very simple Bible program, and only two references appeared when I searched for the phrase "strangers and pilgrims": Heb. 11:13, and 1 Peter 2:11. Hebrews 11:13 says,

These all died in faith, not having received the promises, but having seen them afar off, and were persuaded of [them], and embraced [them], and confessed that they were strangers and pilgrims on the earth.

and 1 Peter 2:11 says,

Dearly beloved, I beseech [you] as strangers and pilgrims , abstain from
fleshly lusts, which war against the soul; 12 Having your conversation honest
among the Gentiles: that, whereas they speak against you as evildoers, they may
by [your] good works, which they shall behold, glorify God in the day of
visitation. 13 Submit yourselves to every ordinance of man for the Lord's sake:
whether it be to the king, as supreme; 14 Or unto governors, as unto them that
are sent by him for the punishment of evildoers, and for the praise of them that
do well. 15 For so is the will of God, that with well doing ye may put to
silence the ignorance of foolish men: 16 As free, and not using [your] liberty
for a cloke of maliciousness, but as the servants of God. 17 Honour all [men].
Love the brotherhood. Fear God. Honour the king.

I included the following verses here because I feel they have bearing on the subject at hand. Then we go to Jesus' teaching on salt and light in Matthew 5:13-16.

13 Ye are the salt of the earth: but if the salt have lost his savour, wherewith shall it be salted? it is thenceforth good for nothing, but to be cast out, and to be trodden under foot of men. 14 Ye are the light of the world. A city that is set on an hill cannot be hid. 15 Neither do men light a candle, and put it
under a bushel, but on a candlestick; and it giveth light unto all that are in
the house. 16 Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good
works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.

"In the world, but not of it" is the catch-phrase that defines the conservative Mennonite's stand on separation and nonconformity to the world. In the past, it has been interpreted to mean many things, including communal living, even to the point of developing a separate subculture in different societal structures. This catch-phrase has proven difficult to master, because even the most diligent Christians will find themselves influenced in some way by the culture around them.

Let's turn my original question around: What role should the Christian's nation of origin play in influencing the way he or she should conduct their lifestyle? In other words, how much should a culture, be it Western or otherwise, permeate my life in its entirety?

My denomination of choice has historically taken the position of non-involvement in affairs of state, citing that the church is to remain separate from the state, because

"we yield a secondary loyalty to the state and are limited in our
participation in its secular functions by our understanding of the prior
obligation of the holy life."

This quotation is taken from the Statement of Faith of the South Atlantic Mennonite Conference. I agree with this position, yet I do not find anywhere a clause for absolute non-involvement in the affairs of the world. Indeed, if that were the case, I would not be able to fulfill a requirement stated prior to the quoted passage.

"The church transcends the state, both in nature and mission. It is made
up of believers, whose highest function of citizenship in the state is in the
true exemplification of the Christian life, issuing in faithful witness and
service to all mankind."

This position clearly indicates that the Christian has an obligation to witness and serve society by exemplifying Christ, even calling it the highest function of our worldly citizenship. How then can I, as a Christian, not speak out against the sins and atrocities I see in society today? Consider the following:

"Rare Jewel Magazine featured an article by Pres George W Bush on the subject of the sanctity of marriage. He closed it with these statements: "All people
deserve to have their voices heard... American democracy should decide the
future of marriage in America." In a similar fashion, Vice President Dick
Cheney has made comments about "freedom means being free" in the context of
homosexual conduct, specifically the state's attitude toward same.

Truth in packaging warning: We at Rare Jewel Magazine have serious problems(euphemism for revulsion) over the American culture's elevation of "democracy" and "freedom" when they become camouflage-terms for the breakdown of traditional Christian standards, and for licentiousness. When spoken by friends and allies, we have particular concern. The Founders were overwhelmingly disdainful of
democracy; and "freedom" is an amorphous term that has come to mean a freedom to sin and selfishly offend in our culture.

What do we do--as Christian patriots, and as publishers? Do we soft-pedal the transgressions (as we see them) of those with whom we are allied on so many
other issues? Does that serve our core beliefs; does that serve our readers? As voters, if we are impressed by, say, the platform and candidate of the Constitution Party, but fear that breaking an anti-Kerry bloc would allow the Massachusetts liberal to sweep into the White House, do we "hold our noses and vote" for candidates with whom we mostly agree? California conservatives recently had intense debates within their ranks over whether to boost Arnold Schwarzenegger: was it acceptable to vote for someone pro-abortion and liberal on homosexual "marriage" in order to oust Gray Davis, who was weaker on economic and other issues dear to conservatives' hearts?

The writer previously pointed out that settling for "the lesser of two evils" is still settling for evil.

All my life I had heard adults I respected, at election times, talk about voting for "the lesser of two evils." So did I, when I got involved in politics and as a young voter. Then, one, day, feeling particularly downcast over the drift of affairs--realizing for the umpteenth time that my vote was inevitably to be cancelled out by an illiterate pickpocket on welfare who barely spoke English
(these were my cynical days, but I was learning the implications of democracy,
indeed that most pernicious of systems)--I realized if I were voting for the
"lesser" of two evils, I was still casting my support for someone, so to speak
and to a degree, whom I considered evil.

I opted out. I would support a candidate, in a blue moon, whose values I shared or whose integrity impressed me. Otherwise, politics for me became a spectator sport. "Why should I vote?" was my challenge to friends; "It only encourages the candidates." When challenged by friends with the classic "You have no right to complain if you don't vote," I'd answer the non sequitur with my own challenge: "You complain about judges who allow abortion; many of those judges were
appointed by Republicans for whom you voted." I didn't accuse friends of thereby
having blood on their own hands... but I was convinced of the futility of it all.

"I "returned to the fold," ultimately feeling embarrassed, even shameful, about the "sabbatical." Why? Briefly: Old heroes--the "ghosts" of our history--and contemporary people of integrity, yelled at my conscience. Reading the Bible. Being infected by the passion of spiritual and political activists. Examples
like Phyllis Schlafly, institutions like Rare Jewel Magazine. Being stirred by
the martyrdom of believers around the world, dying for their faith at the
greatest rate since Christ's day. Reminders of anguished and lonely patriots
like ex-spy Whitaker Chambers who had revelations about their times, themselves, and their God. Watching the news, becoming aware that we are in a time of crisis
like none other in our history. Mostly, pride: the realization that I--we--are
letting third-rate pretenders, atheistic charlatans, and wolves in sheeps'
clothing steal our values, our children, our culture, our birthright.

We cannot let that happen; we cannot bear the shame of doing nothing while enemies romp in the open. We must not merely make individual decisions; we must
adopt a worldview.

You probably found yourself nodding your head in agreement with the writer, until you got to the point where he "returned to the fold", in which he once again took up voting as a method of making a difference in the moral condition of this nation. I question the effectiveness of this solution, but his decision is his to answer for, and I will not stand in judgment, as he made his decision for conscience's sake.

That said, he raises an important point. What are we doing to point out the evils we see in this society?

Having just painted a miniature portrait of an America that used to be, however, let me describe a hypothetical American culture that might come to
pass. Would Christian patriots rethink their fierce loyalties if the American
flag were to come to represent, let's say, the rejection of traditional
Christian values in society; if the Bible were outlawed in classroom exercises
and banned from public displays; if schools were to teach evolution and
proscribe the mention of Divine Creation; if public education were to mean
instruction about premarital sex but suspension of students who display the
slogan "Homosexuality is Wrong"; if the courts were to call vile pornography
"free speech protected by the Constitution" but outlaw public displays of the
Ten Commandments; if Christians continuously were to be mocked by the
entertainment media but reading of passages from the Bible in public were to
become a crime under "anti-hate" laws.

Who can imagine such a culture? How many years in the future could this come
to pass, if ever, in America? Is it more absurd to envision the
following?--content of television so offensive that scarcely a program at any
time of day on any channel in any category is decent, traditional, polite?
--"music" with lyrics featuring everything from perverted sex to racial hatred
to incitements to suicide and murder, at every place you turn, on car radios,
music videos, stores' loudspeakers? --how about a "culture of death" that
promotes infanticide, euthanasia, and homosexuality, arguing that AIDS is a
civil right, not a disease, whose elimination should come through medical
miracles and not application of traditional morality? --or a political society
where the virus of Marxian analysis--cradle-to-grave governmental
paternalism--has reasserted itself, even in the councils of the Party of
Reagan?

Is there any chance that these visions can come to pass? How far away can
this nightmare become a reality? A year? A decade? Ever, in the land of the free
and the home of the brave?

How about... now. Does any reader of these words deny that we are already
"there" in each item from this checklist of abominations?

Rare Jewel Magazine: Oct/Nov '04: Theme- "Rights of Christian Patriots"
The Upper Room: Oct/Nov 04 (column by Managing Editor Rick Marschall)"Pearls Before Swine"

And again I ask, what are we DOING about this?

Consider the list of Heroes of Faith as found in Hebrews 11. Men like Noah, who in 2 Peter 2:5 is called "a preacher of righteousness". Or Moses, who stood eyeball to eyeball with the most powerful man in the world and demanded the freedom of the Jews. Or Samuel, who told Eli that his sons were the result of Eli's failure as a father, who asked Saul why he sacrificed the Amalekites' livestock instead of destroying them. Or others who weren't mentioned, yet Scripture points out that they said and did what was needed, no matter the cost. Men like Nathan, who said to David, "Thou art the man," in reference to David's sin with Bathsheba. Or Elijah, who faced down Ahab and 450 prophets of Baal when he was armed only with his faith in God.

Here's something else to consider. Every letter of the apostles written to the different churches scattered throughout Asia and Europe were written for a reason. The sins spoken against in those letters were sins that people in those churches participated in. I doubt the apostles won any popularity awards. When the church sent out preachers on missionary journeys, who did the preacher preach to, and what did they speak against? Why, those not right with God, and the sins that defiled them.

There is more I could say. But I want to wait and give others a chance to respond and then see where that takes us. I just want to leave you with a final thought:

How many souls will be doomed to eternal torment because we refused to stand up, to speak up, when God prodded us?

The Gist Of It

2005-08-22T15:01:00.000-04:00

The Gist Of It

Read this.

"Nuff said.

Borrowed Thoughts on TAP '05

2005-08-21T23:06:00.000-04:00

These are the words of Josh B. Good, whose link you will now find in my sidebar:

I was commenting on the tour that we recently finished...and the ways in which music affects people...in summary of the tour we (the chorus) had something of a cast party (at an absolutely magnificent house with astounding acoustical presence) where we started to sing some of our repertoire just for fun the sheer pleasure in the music and bringing glory to God...this resulted in us in an impromptu method singing virtually all of our songs...without prescribed order/direction...without conduction and without audience...the consequential phenomena was one of the more powerful musical experiences of my life...and in some ways completely singular as it composed a plurality of individuals and concurrent effect...though one cannot accurately replicate or communicate the phenom in written prose (no matter how eloquent) it was a sublime experience...quite mystical in nature... centered in the love of music...the joys of our song...the freedom of performance enabled by practice and rehearsal...all overshadowed by the worship of God...the encouraging of the saints...the expressions of hope...the strength of faith...the mysteriousness of death...and the power of divine, agape love...the gladness of heart...the gladness of heart...the gladness of heart...the gladness of heart as when one goes with a pipe to come into the mountain of the Lord...the desire for God...Come to us O Lord in splendor bright, Fill our hearts with everlasting light...

And I thought I used big words...

But I know what he's saying. My brother-in-law, Titus B., said similar things tonight. He felt that this was the most powerful musical experience he'd ever had. I just really wish I could have heard them in concert. I'm eagerly anticipating that recording Benji's working on.

I want to hear By...FLY!

Other Modifications

2005-08-21T17:42:00.000-04:00

You may not have seen it, but there was a virtual pet in the sidebar for the space of about 3 hours. It has been pushed out of this virtual vehicle, because in those same hours, I had about 9 spam comments. Those have been deleted, as well. I have also added word verification to the comments page. Sorry for the inconvenience, but I can't stand spam comments!

Blog Modification Notice

2005-08-20T17:42:00.000-04:00

If you will look to the sidebar, you should see that I have removed the Tagboard. Hopefully, the lack of a pop-up gave you an early clue. I also added a link to Random Pitches, which is the online domicile of one Glen Zehr, baritone for Voice of Praise. (He's the one on the far left. And that's not his political position.) Please, go say "Hi!", and pester him about details on the new recording they just finished.

I also added a link to a Christian Newsblog, that Not1Jot has recommended. What I have read has been very helpful for me and informative. The editor updates it once a week, or thereabouts, and generally over the weekend. It consists mostly of compiled articles from a wide variety of publications, and is very current with issues facing the church today. But don't take my word for it, go see for yourself!

Have You Ever Been This Tired?

2005-08-19T19:37:00.000-04:00

I almost didn't include this one, but this is as tired as you can get!

Eternal Revenue: Featured!

2005-08-17T22:25:00.000-04:00

This is exciting...to me, anyway. Probably not a big deal to some of the near-pros that deign to read this blog. But, if you're interested, we were included in an AgGeorgia Newsletter article about their Customer Appreciation banquets. The actual magazine has a picture of us, but the website has only our name. Bummer!

Wow. Fifteen whole seconds of fame.

Oh, well. At least we were given the opportunity to share Jesus Christ, and that's what ER is all about.

Baby Boom!

2005-08-15T15:10:00.000-04:00

Some exciting news in the Burkeland congregation. Ryan and April Keller had a little girl, Whitney Nicole, on Sunday, soon after midnight. She weighed 7 lb., 1 oz. Then Burton and Deborah Heatwole had another baby boy last evening just before 9 o'clock. Joshua Shane, 9 lb., 12 oz.

Congratulations to both families, and God's blessings on the parents as they once again lose lots of sleep. (Somehow, it's still worth it!)

Photography Fever

2005-08-11T22:42:00.000-04:00

I know, I know, enough with the photography-related posts, already! But I ran across this at Not1Jot's and I felt it deserved mention and a hat tip to Jot.

Darin, you especially should enjoy this!

Mail I Wait On

2005-08-10T22:18:00.000-04:00

I lost this post once, so I'll try again.

I mentioned earlier that I had finally had success on eBay. The pictures I used came from Google Images and just don't do justice to what I received today. Check these out.

Take note of the lack of dings, nicks, worn spots, etc. on both the camera and flash. Also note the Lumiquest PocketBounce, with gold insert. Also note that the G40 flash can rotate 270 degrees, as well as swivel up and down. Both items look like they were handed to me off the display shelf. I am very pleased with the results, especially since I have already shot some pictures and everything seems to work perfectly.

Women Who Spit...and True Justice

2005-08-09T10:24:00.000-04:00

Driver Chases Car After Falling Out

KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — Opening up your door while driving isn't a good idea, especially on a busy highway.

Robbin Doolin, 31, of the Kansas City suburb of Grandview, learned that Friday morning when she leaned out her fast-moving car to spit.

She went tumbling out onto U.S. 71 in Kansas City, and to the amazement of other drivers, she hopped up and chased her car as it careened down an embankment toward a construction site.

Doolin was recovering Friday night at a hospital, where she was treated for injuries to her leg, arm and head.

"It's certainly not prudent to open your car door on a highway, especially when you're not wearing a seat belt," said Capt. Rich Lockhart, a police spokesman.

Lockhart said the woman was embarrassed about the accident.

Her explanation to officers: "I leaned out to spit and I leaned too far."

Compiled by FOXNews.com's Jennifer D'Angelo.

And it does my heart good to see some "real" justice being dished out to spoiled juvenile offenders.

Tech Specs

2005-08-07T00:04:00.000-04:00

This will give you more of the technical information about the Olympus IS-2. I'm not smart enough to understand what they're saying. Darin, TS--help me out, if you want.

Olympus IS-2 with G-40 Flash

2005-08-06T22:44:00.000-04:00

ITF is right.

Whew, didn't see that coming, did you?

Bid what the item is worth to you, and sit back and wait. Two separate auctions, and I got 'em both. Really didn't expect that, but I'm glad. The deal wasn't quite as sweet as the other, but you can't win them all.

He was right about the cornbread, too.

Snipe Victim!!

2005-08-04T20:40:00.001-04:00

I just got sniped on eBay.

I'm a little frustrated. I missed an awesome deal on an Olympus IS-1 with G40 flash and two lense adapters, case and everything.

Grrrr.... I need to bite something, supper, maybe.

Truth or Dare!

2005-08-02T00:10:00.000-04:00

My wife has dared me to try to track down one of my old public grade school flames. She thinks this is funny. I'm not sure I can handle the pre-teen angst again. Should I do this, and how do I go about it?

I can't turn this around on her, either, because I am her old school flame...well, sorta.

And yes, I said "flames." What can I say, I was precocious. Now whether THEY knew anything about it is uncertain!

Chocolate Donuts are FUN!!

2005-07-28T20:46:00.000-04:00

These pictures speak for themselves.

The Georgia Guidestones

2005-07-28T20:38:00.000-04:00

The Georgia Guidestones

Has anybody ever heard of these? This is the first I've heard of them, but they've been in Elbert County for 25 years. Scary! I wonder if the languages mentioned were chosen for a certain reason. I would like some feedback on this, as well.

Now I'm Concerned!

2005-07-28T19:06:00.000-04:00

WorldNetDaily: One-world religion on its way?

Go read the article, and then come back and tell me what you think. I was afraid something like this might happen.

If You're Gonna Be Outside These Days...

2005-07-28T09:20:00.000-04:00

...you'd better get into some water! Yesterday morning by 11:00, I saw about 107* out in the yard under the pecan trees. It really is just too hot for any living soul to be out and about, but my girls have no such reservations, and beg to go outside to play. So yesterday, I transformed their turtle sandbox into a wading pool. First, I emptied out all the old wet sand, then I washed it out, spread a tarp in the yard, and filled the turtle with cold water. The girls just loved it.

I even sat in my lawn chair and put my feet in for a while. It felt wonderful.

~Naomi

Free MacMini or other stuff!

2005-07-27T23:09:00.000-04:00

In helping my buddy Hans Mast, I now need ten referrals to help get my prize. If you don't mind, please go here and complete one requirement. All I need are ten! I did the Napster trial, gonna see what that's like before I trash it.

Thanks, folks!

Olivia Discovers the Joys of Harmonics

2005-07-23T05:05:00.000-04:00

The other day, Naomi came into the kitchen and found Olivia, who was in her highchair, talking to herself and enjoying the harmonic vibrations it created in her head. She was saying, "Me, me, me, me, me, me."

You should try it! It creates some weird buzzing sensations! And makes for interesting pictures, too! And to think that she discovered this all by herself!

I'm so proud of her!

Tagboard Poll

2005-07-22T21:25:00.000-04:00

I'm thinking about removing the tagboard from the sidebar. What do you think? Should I keep it? Or scrap it? All my regular readers need to respond in the comment section; know what, even you irregular readers can vote. After all, I am not going to discriminate based on gastrointestinal activities...

...I hope y'all caught that.

Playing With My Daughter

2005-07-22T10:15:00.000-04:00

You probably would have laughed if you had seen me this morning. I was the patient so that Brenna could play "Nurse." She told me to lay down on the kitchen floor and put my feet up on the nurse's bed (a breakfast tray with legs that stands about 8" tall) and prop up my head (on her booster seat). So there I lay while she went to get my shots (forks) and my ointment and band-aids (purely imaginary). She was a merciful nurse who made sure I took my medicine (the milk in her sippy cup) on a frequent basis so that I wouldn't feel bad.

I let it last a few minutes, and although I sort of felt like a fool (and I really hoped no one would come to my door!) I also kind of enjoyed it because I knew Brenna was having fun. And she is due for shots at the doctor's office sometime next month now that she is four; so I thought maybe it was good for her to play it from the nurse's perspective. Maybe she will be braver when her turn comes to receive the shots.

~Naomi

US firm to send Internet diaries into space 'E.T. blog home'

2005-07-20T19:12:00.000-04:00

SpaceBlog: The Final Frontier

I'm game! Although if I get a comment, I am not sure what I'll do!

And I thought I was a Chocoholic!

2005-07-18T10:51:00.000-04:00

Chocolate Spa Treatments

I KNEW chocolate was good for you, but I think I'd rather eat it than wear it.

Bible Codes: What do YOU think?

2005-07-18T10:27:00.000-04:00

WorldNetDaily: New blast for 'Bible Code Bombshell'!

I'm not sure what this is about. Check the link and see what you think. I'm gonna do some googling and research this subject for myself.

At least the author came to the right conclusion, whether his premise is correct or not.

The Georgia Free-Range Chicken

2005-07-17T22:47:00.000-04:00

When I was fixing up the trailer Naomi and I were going to live in after our wedding, I was fortunate enough to get some needed help and expertise from my Granddaddy and Uncle Steve. Those of you that know Uncle Steve know that he can be really crazy and say the nuttiest things. One day he asked me, "Have you ever managed to catch and eat any of those Georgia Chickens?"

I was mystified. What in the world was a "Georgia Chicken?"

" You know, those long, skinny birds I see roaming around in the pasture out behind the house, eating bugs and stuff. Don't expect they'd be very good eating, though. Not nearly enough meat on them," he replied.

Since that day, this is a Georgia Chicken.

PS: And, yes, he knew it wasn't a chicken, he was just picking on me for making my home in Georgia.

A Bird in the Stove is Worth....A Post, Anyway

2005-07-16T19:09:00.000-04:00

A little gray bird flew down our chimney this afternoon and got trapped in the woodstove in the kitchen. This was a BIG deal to our four-year-old, Brenna, who has such a soft heart for animals. Anyway, yours truly was elected to attempt to capture the poor thing and take it outside.

So I opened the door just a crack and shone a flashlight in and there it was, forlornly sitting in last winter's ashes. All it needed was a little sackcloth to look truly repentant of its bad judgment. I tried reaching in and holding it, but the bird was having none of that! It thrashed around and raised a small dust storm that poofed out the door. I gave up on that technique, and Naomi went out to the carport to get my fishing net.

While she was getting the net, I tried once more to pick up the bird, and this time it dodged my hand and darted through the opening created by my arm. Great! Now it's in the kitchen!

It immediately flew across the room and started banging and fluttering frantically against the window above the sink. Naomi brought the net in, and used it to keep the bird against the window, and I moved in and finally got my hands around the bird.

SQUAWK!!!!

It tried to BITE me! This little bird, with no teeth, and so tiny and weak, fighting furiously to survive what it thought would be its last moment. And then it stopped. I could feel its heart pounding like a triphammer as I scooted out the door and through the porch.

Then I released it outside and it flew away, no doubt still trying to figure out why it wasn't an hors d'oevre. Too bad I didn't grab my camera to record the whole thing and make this post more interesting.

However, as I began typing this account, I was struck with the similarities between that bird and us as God's children. We get into a situation of our own accord, realize our error, and then find out that we cannot solve the problem we have created. So we flop and flutter, creating a general mess, making things even worse. Finally God reaches in, once we've settled down where He can deal with us, and attempts to provide a solution to our problem.

AAAGGGHHH! No, that way is too scary, or requires too much trust, or whatever! So we dart out into a different situation or environment, and continue to flop and flutter, slowly realizing that nothing has really changed. Then God finally gets hold of us, and we then try to strike out at Him!

"How did you let me get in this pickle? Why didn't you stop me? Why are you treating me like this? Just WHO do you think you are........oh...um, skip that, God....Please?..."

Then we let God do what he wanted to do in the first place, and we fly off to tell our friends what a life-changing experience we just had with the Lord.

And God just smiles and hopes that we behave ourselves and allow Him to direct us in the future. After all, He did create us, and He does want the best for us!

"Rain Check"

2005-07-16T09:11:00.000-04:00

Just what is a "rain check" anyway?

And how did the term get its name?

And is it an oxymoron, or a paradox, or just irony when you have to take a "rain check" because your picnic got cancelled because of rain?

~Naomi

What I Just Finished Eating

2005-07-11T20:23:00.000-04:00

Malt-O-Meal makes some good cereals, and I just tried this one. It was pretty good. I also like their Cinnamon Toasters, and their Honey Graham Squares. Now I think I'll eat some leftover green beans, so this will be a well-balanced meal. And a glass of sweet tea, for good measure.

Ebenezer Chorale: The Review

2005-07-11T18:31:00.000-04:00

This is a scanned image of their program. All the songs were a capella, which is how all music in our particular churches is sung. I enjoyed all the songs, but there were a few that deserve special attention. "Beyond the Cross" was a very nice song that Truthseeker had a solo in! This is the first solo he has ever done in a worship service. He was obviously nervous, but I think he did a very good job! I'm quite proud of him...in a humble, reserved, Mennonitish way, of course. Eternal Revenue may need to learn that song; I think it would be appreciated in four-part men's music.

"Little Innocent Lamb" and "Bow Down Low" also captured my imagination, though that should hardly be a surprise, as the first is a spiritual and the second, a Shaker hymn. Those styles are personal favorites of mine.

"Bright Canaan" brought back memories of singing in the Chorale eight or more years ago, and I found myself back-row directing and singing along.

We enjoyed the opportunity to visit with family and friends once again, and I was especially thrilled to see one of my best buds from my teenage years, Eropper. He and his wife, who also went to school with me, have two daughters who are close in age to mine. Hopefully, I'll do better at keeping in touch in the future. I have added him to the sidebar, as well as a link to another good writer with an interesting sign-off phrase.

The chorale had a stellar group of singers, BTW. And, no big surprise, 17 of 23 were...quite "Good"!

Sorry...I couldn't help it. :)

Ebenezer Chorale Bus: So Cool!

2005-07-10T12:28:00.000-04:00

The Ebenezer Chorale travelled in this bus.

This is a major sleeper of a bus. Looks kinda clunky on the outside, but the inside isn't that bad. Sounds like the A/C struggled a little bit, and they had a tire blowout on one of the rear tires, but everything worked out well. I'll share more about the program later.

Can you make a Sand Castle?

2005-07-09T14:30:00.000-04:00

God even loves idiots like me: I can't even dig a hole in the sand.

Go check this out! Talk about using your gifts!

My family and I are going to Hartwell Mennonite Center tonight to hear a program given by the Ebenezer Church chorale from South Boston, VA. I'm looking forward to it. I'll see if I can't give a follow-up review later.

HAPPY 4TH BIRTHDAY, BRENNA!

2005-07-06T22:57:00.000-04:00

It's hard to believe you are four years old! Mommy and I love you very much, and hope that you continue to grow up healthy and happy. Most of all, we want you to love Jesus, who died on the cross for you and everyone else in the world. Love, your Daddy

She has come a long way from 2 pounds and 15 ounces, hasn't she, folks? That was her birth weight four years ago when she was born ELEVEN weeks before her due date of September 21. We were on vacation, visiting my wife's family, when Naomi went into labor, and Brenna was born at MCG Hospital in Augusta, GA. MCG's Neonatal ICU is second to none in Georgia, by my estimation, and we owe the staff there a huge debt of gratitude!

There's nothing that REALLY gets your attention like following an ambulance that is carrying your wife and unborn child, knowing that there are high risks for both, and that there is NOTHING you can do about it. Nerve-wracking, really! But God heard my tearful prayers, and preserved them both, and I am grateful to Him. The NICU was top-notch, and the staff were very understanding and basically let us make that section of the hospital our home-away-from-home. I ate at the hospital McDonald's more times than I care to count!

And judging by how short a time it took for her to reach four years, the next thing I know, she'll be eighteen and some nervous young fellow will be asking to take her out!

I think I'll look for baseball bats on eBay....

A Second Try

2005-07-05T22:06:00.000-04:00

Awright!! It finally worked! Now, check out the backwards-facing seats and the pop-up card table. And let's not forget the bed, of course.

The card table is what got me, though. I can just see it: a massive cheeseburger, a drink, a laptop computer and Solitaire. Yep, that's me...what a party animal!

I Have Found The Minivan of My DREAMS!

2005-07-05T20:23:00.000-04:00

Ok, I know that is sad. I am definitely sliding into middle age if I'm dreaming about minivans.

Sigh.

But I am rediscovering the joy of just browsing through eBay for cool stuff, and our '97 Chrysler LHS is getting a little full with two adults, two children, and ALL the STUFF! So, I've been weighing the options that we will need to consider, ahem, WHEN we have the money for another vehicle.

Yeah, right, like that's gonna happen.

Sigh, again. Sigh a third time, for good measure.

But, I did find one that embodies just about everything that I really would like to have in my next vehicle. Space, seating, options, you name it.

Plus, it's just COOL! Built like a brick, but way cool.

I would add pictures, but the photo button on the post toolbar doesn't always load pictures very well. It's a great concept, but is faulty in operation at times. I hope Blogger is paying attention. It browses my picture files just fine, but when I try to upload them to Blogger for a post, they often get lost somewhere in the vast space of the internet.

If you send a file out and it never arrives, where does it go? The Internet Lost and Found?

Update: I just discovered that the hyperlink didn't work, so go to eBay Motors, search for VW EuroVan, and find the gray 2002 in Pensacola, FL that mentions the word "rare" in the description. Bid on it and send it to me as a gift, if you feel like it.

*grin*

Witnessing through Signs

2005-07-02T19:35:00.000-04:00

After I checked with my boss, who I was sure would have no problem with this, I took down the advertisement lettering for the past week and placed these messages on our sign. A good friend of mine who is one of the pastors at Hephzibah Mennonite Church had asked if we had ever thought of using the sign as a witnessing tool on the weekend. I hadn't, and since we normally leave it blank, I figured it would be a good use of that resource. So I decided on these two messages.

What do you think? Too 'radical'? Too obscure?

I figure some will think they are too patriotic. I'll admit they were inspired by the upcoming Independence Day observance, but I hope people can see through to the deeper meaning.

In the next couple of days, as I think about the cost of freedom, maybe I can write an article about what living in this country and enjoying the privileges it offers means to me.

Just don't get so caught up in the celebration and all the peripherals that you forget about the First 'Dependence' Day. That was the day Jesus died on the cross for yours and my sins.

John 8:36--

If the Son therefore shall make you free, ye shall be free indeed.

Reinventing the Hedgetrimmer

2005-06-30T19:15:00.000-04:00

I have to get one of these!!!

Either that, or I need to figure out how to fake pictures like that.

A... A... Achoo!

2005-06-29T16:32:00.000-04:00

Today, Brenna asked me if God ever sneezes.

~Naomi

Eternal Revenue: Image Change

2005-06-28T12:27:00.000-04:00

Yessiree, ER's image has changed in the last week! Our 'Blackwood Brother', Burton has shaved his beard! And our doctor-in-training, Vernon, went ice skating on his honeymoon, slipped on a melted patch, and dislocated his collarbone. I understand he will be in an immobilizing sling for a short period of time. He was to begin as a nursing assistant this week, assisting patients getting up from their wheelchairs and their beds and getting mobile. Don't know what he's gonna do now. Pray for him and Lezlie; they're supposed to be back at their place now. What a honeymoon! BTW, Tom, if you feel like ice skating, or water skiing, or sky diving, or bungee-jumping....you may want to reconsider. Or not.

Billy Graham--The Last Crusade

2005-06-26T21:52:00.000-04:00

BellSouth - NEWS--Billy Graham's Last Crusade

This is interesting. The last comment by the former president is saddening, though. Where were all the other Christians?

God Bless You, Billy! You've been a good servant.

Barbeque, the Redneck's Filet Mignon

2005-06-24T19:44:00.000-04:00

Barbeque is one of the biggest reasons I'm glad I'm not under the Old Testament Covenant. Well, next to salvation by faith in Jesus Christ. The Jews couldn't eat pork! Those poor people! This was for health considerations, of course, as pigs can carry many diseases and bacteria that can infect humans, if the meat is not prepared properly. Proper barbeque cooking techniques address that problem, and of course, God told Peter not to call the food offered by God "unclean".

Yay for us!

Of course, we need to understand what we mean by the term "barbeque". Barbeque consists of pork, slow-cooked and juicy with natural juices and manmade sauces. I can support that statement with this fact. All other types of barbeque have to be identified as to the meat being used. Chicken barbeque, beef barbeque, etc. I have seen, on rare occasions, the phrase "pork barbeque", but if one goes into any restaurant that specializes in "soul food", and asks for barbeque, one will get pork. This is as it should be. Barbeque made with pork is far superior to the other types.

Barbeque as a word can also be used as a verb. It does not mean grill. Period. One "grills" hamburgers and hotdogs on a "grill". This NOT barbeque! Grilling, according to Wikipedia, consists of a high heat, with the meat in close proximity to the heat source, over a short period of time. Barbequing is a slow process, where the meat is cooked by an indirect source of heat. I should also point out that barbeque is NEVER, repeat NEVER, made from hamburger and Manwich sauce. That is defined as a "Sloppy Joe". I like Sloppy Joes, but they are a poor substitute for genuine barbeque.

I have had barbeque from different areas of the country, and most of these experiences were good. Different sauces with different basic ingredients were used, but they were still good. Vinegar base, tomato base, whatever; it's all good. Chopped meat, pulled meat, sliced meat; take your pick. Sonny's BBQ slices their meat, and has some very good sauces. Sconyers Barbeque in Augusta, GA has some of the best barbeque in Georgia. Matter of fact, it's where Naomi requested to be taken last Valentine's Day. Taylor's Barbeque, which is so backwoods redneck that the parking lot is dirt and the restaurant is a HOUSE, is probably Waynesboro, GA's best-kept secret. Well...it was till now, anyway. So far the locust hordes that come to Augusta for the Masters golf tournament haven't found it. Let's try to keep it that way.

Yes, I have a preference for how my barbeque is prepared. I prefer a tomato-based sauce with vinegar to give it some zip. I prefer the meat to be chopped, or at least pulled. I prefer my barbeque to be cooked slowly, and either as a whole hog, or a half hog, at least. That way one can have RIBS! Ribs have probably the best-flavored meat, but you have to eat a rack of ribs to get enough meat for a meal. That's why I prefer chopped meat; more bbq for your buck, you might say.

Ray Stevens has even written a song about barbeque. I tried to track down the lyrics, but his website didn't list them. In that song, he talks about waking up in the middle of the night, and begging his wife to run down to Shorty's All-Night Hawg Heaven and bring him about five pounds of inside meat, with the sauce dripping of her elbows.

Yeah. HE understands!

Test Post

2005-06-24T19:35:00.000-04:00

Blogger has introduced a new picture feature that I want to try. Here is a cartoon that I enjoyed recently. Go to ReverendFun for more funny 'toons.

Coming Soon!

2005-06-24T05:13:00.000-04:00

Yesterday, I looked through my archives and realized that I had not followed up on my promise to write about barbeque. So, a post is forthcoming! Now I need to go do some research on the subject. :) Yum!

New Link in the Sidebar

2005-06-23T05:30:00.000-04:00

Folks, take note of the new link to "Life is in the Livin'", a blog belonging to a friend of mine, Ryan Zook. I remember him as a 16-year-old rookie at Maranatha Bible School. You'll have to have a MSN Passport to leave comments on his site, but his articles are interesting and often funny. He is married to John Coblentz's daughter, Shari, and they are expecting their first child. I remember her as a "TK" (teacher's kid) at MBS. Pray for them as they embark on the journey into parenthood.

2005-06-22T19:44:00.000-04:00

This is one of the display cases I stand behind all day. This was taken in the afternoon, so we have sold out of some things that I have not mentioned. Well, if you're not hungry, then I give up. Those of you that enjoyed the visual feast, be sure to wipe the drool off your keyboards and monitors! :)

2005-06-22T19:40:00.000-04:00

And here is my personal favorite, the apple fritters. Fried crisp on the outside, but soft on the inside, with apple chunks throughout, and then dunked in glaze. Make your tongue beat your brains out, they taste so good! Eaten warm at 7:30 AM, they'll make you bite your tongue for touching it first!

2005-06-22T19:36:00.000-04:00

Cream cheese danishes, with powdered sugar glaze drizzled all over top. Ladies especially CRAVE these, along with our pecan cookies. I can't say I blame them.

2005-06-22T19:33:00.000-04:00

Bearclaws, consisting of large, solid donuts; thick caramel icing; and a coating of pecans. These will make your cavities ache, they're so sweet!

2005-06-22T19:29:00.000-04:00

Chocolate iced donuts! You hungry, yet?

2005-06-22T19:25:00.000-04:00

This is the cinnamon roll from Windmill Farm Bake Shop that Naomi and I shared on our way south on Tuesday. Yes, that is a normal-sized plastic fork. Yes, I can eat one of these rolls by myself. No, I did not eat all of it...just most of it. :) Those Goods sure can bake, right, Tom?

2005-06-22T19:20:00.000-04:00

Naomi did much better than I on the swing, though.

2005-06-22T19:17:00.000-04:00

On Monday evening, my folks and my family went to the park for a picnic. As you can see, I am truly qualified to operate heavy equipment. See my work boots?

2005-06-22T19:13:00.000-04:00

This is the plane I got a ride in Saturday evening. It is a twin tail, two-engine machine, with one propeller in the front, and one in the back. It just needs gold spinner rims to go with the tinted windows, and then it would really look like a drug-running plane!

2005-06-22T19:09:00.000-04:00

I managed to persuade the other members of Eternal Revenue to do a couple of impromptu songs during the 'open mike' session at the reception. Take note of our "Blackwood Brother", Burton. Well, that's what the facial hair reminds me of, anyway! Thanks to my wife for getting this picture.

2005-06-22T19:04:00.000-04:00

And here is the happy couple, Md-hopeful and my sister, Lezlie, about as far apart as they got during that reception.

2005-06-22T19:01:00.000-04:00

And here is our good bloggerbuddy, Yoderpianist, also known as Darin, doing something ITF would approve of. Pouring tea, and managing to get it in the goblet. Capturing him on digital "film" is a rare privilege, due to his aversion to digital point-and-shoot cameras. Ya done good, Darin!

2005-06-22T18:56:00.000-04:00

My lovely wife, Naomi (in the foreground), was appreciative, but Nathan wasn't sure what to think of this break from tradition. He was gracious about it, though. Thanks, Nathan!

2005-06-22T18:52:00.000-04:00

Due to getting up early for pictures, I didn't get any breakfast. So, after my pictures were taken, Merle and I went AWOL to Burger King and got some food! I felt bad for the rest of the bridal party, so I brought back enough for everyone! Sausage, egg, and cheese Croissanwich, anyone?

2005-06-22T18:47:00.000-04:00

Here are Md-Hopeful and Truthseeker, discovering a hidden secret in the preachers' chairs on the front platform at Grace Baptist Church. Talk about laidback!