Marriage has enlarged me greatly.

19 years of marriage has made me almost twice the man I was before meeting Judy. Marriage has definitely enlarged me and expanded my horizons.

Before Marriage. Back in 1988. You can't see the rolled up jeans in the shot!

Notice how when I was thinner in the waist and fuller in the hair - Judy is clutching me but later in life she puts Summer between us. I guess she thinks if I get hungry she can outrun Summer. And that was twenty pounds ago!

She has even encouraged me to pick up a tennis rack, go biking with friends over the weekend. Why she is so understanding and lets me out of the house for youth camps ("stay another night!"), youth mission trips ("you sure they don't need you in mexico for two weeks!?!"), lockins ("You're only hosting one this week?!"), and movie nights ("Hey I bought you a season pass!"). Why she encourages me daily to get out of the house! I don't even have to go visit her family on holidays - she insists I just hang out with my friends. That is so unlike some of my friends whose wives never let them out of the house - Aunestly.

She must really love me. If you love someone you have to set them free but she keeps saying something about a bad penny. What does that have to do with me coming back home?

Yeah I was a mathlete and not an athlete - JEALOUS!?!

Time Keeps on Slipping Into the Future

I am sitting here listening to some preaching and getting all sentimental. My daughter is a senior this year. I am thinking I need to spend more time with her and really regretting misplaced priorities. I have a finite time with her in my house and its making me realize where have I focused my time with her, her mom, and her two siblings. Its not that I love her most, its just her maturing that is hitting me like a 2 X 4 upside a mark. Is there a mark do you see it?

Anyway, when she was about 5 years old, I was TDY at some lamo conference but one time management seminar was really good. And it posed the question if you had one more hour in the day what would you do with it, and I put devotion and family. Then it encouraged you to restructure your day to hit your main priorities.

At that time in my life, books and watching TV took a lot of my time. Then it became playing computer games sometimes through the night and being all grumpy on Saturdays and Sundays. I had the opportunity to be with them in Europe where we could have seen castles on the weekend or went on a cool Summer day bike ride but Age of Empires, Starcraft, etc. took my time. Now I run home to read the latest blog, check CNN and FOX NEWS, and then check several social sites, all while competing with my kids for computer time.

Tomorrow night I plan to tell them all after supper that I am sorry that when I tore up my games in 2006, I picked up other things to fill my time instead of spending time with them. I say Jesus and family are important to me, but my time is not showing that. How about you?

Heb 12:1 Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a huge crowd of witnesses to the life of faith, let us strip off every weight that slows us down, especially the sin that so easily hinders our progress. And let us run with endurance the race that God has set before us.

You see, realizing you need to spend more time with your kids and doing it are two different things. I have just a one more year left with my baby. But maybe it's not too late for you!

Jeff Dye was robbed!!!

HE SHOULD HAVE WON

My friends are laying it all on the line!

Just got a letter from good friends. All I can say is wow.

Hi there…

So here’s the deal… “We’re done!” We can no longer sit in our safe, secure suburban life and watch the world from our armchair. We can’t sit idly by while an entire African generation is wiped out due to AIDS, leaving an orphan epidemic. Neither can we sit by while another American generation becomes video game zombies with zero passion about anything worthwhile, amazed that the world is not just about “them.”

When Jesus saw James and John fishing, He walked by and said “Follow Me”… and something in James and John knew that this man was worth following. Jesus didn’t say that he would make it easy, he didn’t promise a 401K, he just said “Follow Me.” So that is what we are going to do. We are going to go, and do whatever He tells us. With three children to raise and support, this is not just a whim. This is a commitment to become who God made all of us to be. We are excited to show our kids what the kingdom of God is all about…righteousness, peace, joy, power...We are even more excited to show them that spending another Saturday in a mall is not what life is all about.

God has called us to work with G42, an organization whose purpose is to raise up a generation of radical Christ-followers. Our desire is to live in a community of believers, of radicals, who are unashamed of the Message and who are dedicated to train an army of compassionate, loving, young adults to live as Jesus Christ—to love first, to care for the orphan and widow, and to proclaim His message of grace and power.

The ministries of G42 are currently The World Race, Nsoko Children’s Villages, and Leadership Training Centers. The World Race is a year-long missions trip that combines elements of adventure, community, and kingdom—a microcosm of what we’re about. The Nsoko Children’s Villages are self-sustaining villages, housing up 8-10 orphans each that provide vital necessities for children who have been unwilling victims of the AIDS virus that is running rampant through Africa. The Leadership Training Centers around the world will equip and disciple a generation of Christian businessmen, civic leaders, and pastors.

I hope you can see why we’re passionate, why we believe so much is at stake, why we feel such urgency. And though God has called us to this ministry, we can't do it without a lot of people behind us. Obviously we need prayer…to open doors that need to be opened, and to close others. Miracles, supernatural happenings... can and will happen, we are sure of it. We also need your financial support--food and shelter are good things! You know us and our hearts—you can trust us to be good stewards of your money and prayers—we won’t squander either of them. We will be based out of Europe and initially will need your help to be self-sufficient for the necessities of life.

We will send more updates soon, so you can know what we are doing and how the work is progressing. Please think about supporting us. We’d love to hear from you, so please reply.

Read more in Dave's blog.

Life in a garbage dump - what if it was you?

A blog entry really hit me hard today. I don't know how to repost a whole blog entry but check it out here.

Do I open my home to this little guy

After Lucky ran away, I said no more dogs. I was mad that he was always outside. Some good friends came through and had their two dogs with them. One was a German shepherd and Judy was wanting one for about a day or so. Which got me all thinking about getting another dog - I never learn. However, I don't want a dog that big!! I said too bad they don't have mini-Shepherds.

Well then I see this little guy on Craig's List.

Rocko needs a new home!!!

Rocko is a seven month old pup!!!He weighs about twenty five pounds and thats as big as he will get!!i just had a baby, and im unable to show him the attention he is wanting...he is house trained, kennel trained and good with kids, dogs and cats..He would like to have a fenced in yard and maybe another dog to play with but not a must...there will be a very small re-homing fee to insure he goes to a loving home !!e-mail me if interested and i will send more pics then!!!

Well I sent an e-mail and I am assured he won't get bigger - a mini Shepherd see!!! He is the best dog ever but yet someone is giving him away. Hmmm. He even said there are many people wanting to look at him - yet DAYS LATER he is still available. IT'S A SIGN. The auditor in me is skeptical but the ADD dude is saying please let me get him. I will love him, walk him, neuter him, and then a day or two later fill up his water bowl, scoop poop, and wonder why I ever got him. So should I? Immediate gratification or do I use wisdom?

Oh faithful readers - okay reader - help a brother out. Wait before you give me advise don't forget the spiritual aspect of having this dog. Yes, there is a spiritual benefit. I will be having middle school kids at my house twice a month for discipleship. And I may be boring, but they will love this dog. Right!?! Then they will come and draw closer to God. Plus by the time Spring rolls around I could give him away as a prize for best attender. Or Winter. Depends how long he peaks my interest.

Have you seen the SNL, Mile Myers skit where he is chained to the monkey bars - that is me and Judy is trying her best to restrain me. She has caved to at least looking at him tonight! Oh yeah. She is even saying we would have to name him Wolfie if we do. C'mon, make daddy happy.

Separated but Not Forgotten

This blog post by Seth Barnes made me think of how cool it is when friends / family reunite. It amazes me how you can have minimal contact, be separated for months or even years, yet when reunited it feels so good (okay could not resist the cheese). Enjoy but don't let the little ones see this!

In 1969, two friends, John Rendall and Ace Berg, purchased a lion. At the time, Christian the lion was a 35-pound cub. He had been born in a zoo. The friends raised Christian in their London home. All three hung out in a friend’s furniture shop on the weekends.
Within a year, Christian had grown to 185 lbs. Rendall and Berg realized they couldn’t keep him much longer. But they didn’t know what to do with him. A chance encounter changed that. Two actors from the film Born Free walked into the furniture store.

The actors recommended a conservationist, George Adamson, living in Kenya. Christian was soon in Africa. There he was rehabilitated and released into the wild.

In 1974, Rendall and Berg decided to visit Christian one last time. He was now a wild animal. Adamson told them it was doubtful that Christian could be found. No one had seen him in nine months.

The two flew to Kenya, anyway. On the day they landed, Christian appeared outside Adamson’s camp. Somehow, he knew. He waited outside the camp until Rendall and Berg arrived.

This video was taken during their reunion with Christian. What a story! What a video!

My Kid Are Back!!

They are sleeping right now but they had a blast in Costa Rica the last 10 days on their youth group's mission trip.

Double-minded

I've been doing a lot of second guessing lately. Wondering if I have made right decisions. Seeking counsel and finding nothing settles this restless mind of mine.

Then I get this e-mail from our youth pastor:

Want to encourage you to stay true to your time with the Lord. Without a renewed mind, (Romans 12:2), then we may take up things we are not suppose to take up or lay down things we should not.

Our life is not about "our" life but God's Kingdom and His purposes. Praying for you all daily.

I appreciate and love you much!

Sometimes we need to listen to whispers. Funny how God can talk to us in a simple e-mail to youth volunteers. I realize I have been pretty self centered and that always seems to frustrate me and my household. And the friends who keep seeing me wandering around aimlessly.

Snoop Cat

This month has been bad on animals at our house. Friday night our cat - Snoop Cat, Snoops, or Snoopy cuz it really does not matter what you call him - got out so now we have to runaways. We have not seen him since...and no he is not out for that -- he is fixed. Maybe that is why he ran away or is it this pic?







I know the bible says God will rebuke the devourer but Lucky and Snoops were desired free loaders. Oh well, I think the pound is wondering if I am psycho and at least I am getting to know neighbors.