baptisms

Sunday afternoon Matt, Ryan, Andy, Karie, Kathleen, Jimmy, & Noah took the plunge. I'm proud of all of you!

MUY bien

The movie exceeded my expectations for it. Although a bit of a down fall was it being around two and a half hours long, and a few of the people who came in my group thought it dragged on a bit. How can someone say that? Johnny Depp was on the big screen!!! I would recommend seeing the movie, the twists... crazy! I don’t want to give anything away in it, so go see the movie, then come and talk to me about it. I can’t wait for the POTC 3!

the big 2-1

Happy Birthday Taylor!!!

...my youngest brother...all grown up...

explosions

Happy Fourth of July

It's that time of year again, people flock to the store to buy them. How is it that so many people take pleasure in seeing something blow up? I have to admit that I myself fall into this category. Whether it being a magnificent display in the sky, an Aflac stuffed animal, or a pillow person, something in a lot of us just like to see things blow up. I don't get it... So this holiday, be safe. Don't catch any houses or each other on fire.

July 7th

Jack is back!
...Jack Sparrow that is, sorry Bauer

I am excited to see this movie, but I am a bit afraid that it will not be up to par with the first one. Usually, Disney sequals are a bit of a let down, thoughts?

"Be very careful, then, how you live — not as unwise but as wise, making the most of every opportunity"

Ephesians 5:15-16

a new favorite

After watching the movie for the second time I have come to the decision that I will never grow out of watching disney movies! If I live to be 83 years old, give me a call and we'll have a disney movie marathon. Cars is an awesome movie! It may even surpass the Incredibles...

record 4-1

CTU brought home another win last night! A shout out goes to Cole 'Trickle' Rice, aka J. Heller # 9, for an outstanding record keeping. You let that other team know that your paying attention! Keep it up CTU!

just for fun

Your Birthdate: March 18

You are a cohesive force - able to bring many people together for a common cause. You tend to excel in work situations, but you also facilitate a lot of social gatherings too. Beyond being a good leader, you are good at inspiring others. You also keep your powerful emotions in check - you know when to emote and when to repress. Your strength: Emotional maturity beyond your years Your weakness: Wearing yourself down with too many responsibilities Your power color: Crimson red Your power symbol: Snowflake Your power month: September

What Does Your Birth Date Mean?

A lesson from Susan

I read this post from my soccer coach, Tami Moreno's, blog. I really liked it, so I asked her if she would be willing to let me snag it for the rest of you to read on my blog. Here it is:

I'm sitting here tonight watching the Chronicles of Narnia with my kids and the neighbor kids. We know it's summer break as we started the movie at 10:30 p.m. I figure the later I keep them up, the later they'll sleep in! Anyway - I was sitting here thinking about which character I am more like in this show. Don't ask - the thought process in this head of mine isn't worth trying to figure out! Not sure why I am thinking about this - but I am.

Am I like Edmund - ornary, mean-spiritied and fooled by the white witch (pre-Aslan)?

Am I like Peter - grown up, caretaker, responsible - yet trusting?

Am I like Lucy - carefree, very trusting, willing to take risks and have adventures?

Or am I like Susan - fearful, wanting to go back, afraid to move forward and very little trust? I would say in some ways, I'm a little like all of them.

I am like Edmund at times in my life - not proud of it, but I am. Times when I don't spend enough time with "Aslan". Times when I've allowed things of this world or sin to fool me into thinking that road is better.

At times I am like Peter - grown up and taking care of those around him. Responsible. Yet, I think this is the character I am least like. I know the trust issue is a problem.

Well, then there's Lucy. I take back what I said. I am LEAST like Lucy - but I find myself wishing I was more like her.

I am most like Susan - unfortunately. I am fearful, afraid of change, afraid of moving forward. Don't like things to be different - rather stick with the same ole' same ole. I take little risks or chances in life. Life is not an adventure most of the time - I prefer to stick close to those I know and love, not to step out into new areas where I might fail, and definatly don't trust anything or anyone new. Yet as I watch this tonight with the kids - I am realizing something. If Susan had her way - she would have never met Aslan. Never. She would have gone back and stayed in her comfort zone. She wouldn't have taken the time - nor the risk. Yet she had so much to gain by meeting and eventually following Aslan. It wasn't always easy and sometimes it was awfully painful - but think of what it was like near the end.When she is crowned queen. She is - after all - the daughter of the king. And so am I.

The lesson from the life of Susan? Do whatever it takes to get to the King. Don't hold back, don't stay where it's comfortable - trust HIM to lead you. Don't be afraid - with the King in charge - everything will work out okay. Not perfect, not without hurt and sorrow - but it will work out okay. And someday - you will receive your crown.

This past slime-o-thon has been the best one yet! But where was the pizza? I want to give a shout out to my team: YEAH JADE! You all rocked! I hope you enjoy these photos! COMMENT!!! (please)

every child's dream...

Click to enlarge!

Slime-o-thon!

It's John Piper...!

Contrary to the belief of a crazy English teacher trying to pretend he is a moose, the man in the picture is John Piper. One of my faithful commenters Ryan Potter guessed the right man! Congrats Potter, I would of been a bit disappointed if you got him wrong, since you did introduced me to his works and let me borrow his book. I highly recommend reading this book. The entire theme of the book, is 'Don't waste your life.'

Here is a paragraph from the book which I really liked.

"For me as a boy, one of the most gripping illustrations my fiery father used was the story of a man converted in old age. The church had prayed for this man for decades. He was hard and resistant. But this time, for some reason, he showed up when my father was preaching. At the end of the service, during a hymn, to everyone’s amazement, he came and took my father’s hand. They sat down together on the front pew of the church as the people were dismissed. God opened his heart to the gospel of Christ, and he was saved from his sins and given eternal life. But that did not stop him from sobbing, and saying, as the tears ran down his wrinkled face—and what an impact it made on me to hear my father say this through his own tears—"I’ve wasted it! I’ve wasted it!"

This was the story that gripped me more than all the stories of young people who died in car wrecks before they were converted—the story of an old man weeping that he had wasted his life. In those early years God awakened in me a fear and a passion not to waste my life. The thought of coming to my old age and saying through tears, "I’ve wasted it! I’ve wasted it!" was a fearful and horrible thought to me."

A little background on Piper...
John Piper is the Pastor for Preaching at Bethlehem Baptist Church in Minneapolis, Minnesota. He grew up in Greenville, South Carolina, and studied at Wheaton College, where he first sensed God’s call to enter the ministry. He went on to earn degrees from Fuller Theological Seminary (B.D.) and the University of Munich (D.theol.). For six years he taught Biblical Studies at Bethel College in St. Paul, Minnesota, and in 1980 accepted the call to serve as pastor at Bethlehem. John is the author of more than 20 books and his preaching and teaching is featured on the daily radio program Desiring God. He and wife Noël have four sons, one daughter, and an increasing number of grandchildren.

What really got my attention about Piper is that he spent 8 years of his studies in the book of Romans. Wow, is all I can say to that. (Romans is my favorite book) His sermons are awesome, you can check them out here…

www.desiringgod.org

blog vacation

I'm heading out of town later today for the weekend. Camping time! Then Tuesday is Slime-o-thon... I 'm hyped! I'll be posting pictures when I get back. Have a good few days and Happy Fathers Day!

take a guess

Who is this man?

to be continued...

CTU

Tonight CTU Crossroads Division received their first loss. The game ended up going into extra innings, final score, 10-12. You can't win every game.

Honorable mention goes out to Sierra Smith. She played an excellent game with her award winning catches. (Far left in the picture)

Season record: 3-1
TCC next Monday, bring your game faces

~Karaoke night~

I had some time on my hands...

This week is my first offical week of . Can you say ? May need to bust out some and to in. It will be a time of and from , never , but maybe a little . Keep the , and remember: drama is .

don't forget

Karaoke tomorrow
(Tuesday) night!

Tomorrow is:

Kids' Street takes over the Main Stage! This will be something to see, don't miss out! Church services are 9 and 11, at Crossroads, see my links for details.

soccer update

For the first time in Bedford's history, Varsity Girls Soccer made it to the District Finals! We play today at 1 against Saline. Wish us luck!

a little belated...

Happy Birthday Mom!

posts coming once i find the pictures i want

Soul Patrol!

Taylor Hicks took the American Idol title last night. I am extremely pleased with this. I was impressed with the results show itself, normally, I would find myself just wanting the show to end and the results to be given, but this show I really enjoyed. The only point that I disliked was when the 'artist' formally known as Prince was singing.
My favorite part of the show was when they had the Best Impressionist Award. They had the winner come up and sing for the millions of viewers, but in the middle of his performance Clay Aiken surprised him. The shocked and elated look on his face was priceless.

Robert Fulgham

All I Ever Really Needed to Know I Learned in Kindergarten...

Most of what I really need to know about how to live, and what to do, and how to be, I learned in Kindergarten. Wisdom was not at the top of the graduate school mountain, but there in the sandbox at nursery school.These are the things I learned..

Share everything. Play fair. Don't hit people. Put things back where you found them. Clean up your own mess. Don't take things that aren't yours. Say sorry when you hurt somebody. Wash your hands before you eat. Flush. Warm cookies and cold milk are good for you. Live a balanced life. Learn some and think some and draw and paint and sing and dance and play and work every day some.

Take a nap every afternoon. When you go out into the world, watch for traffic, hold hands, and stick together. Be aware of wonder. Remember the little seed in the plastic cup? The roots go down and the plant goes up and nobody really knows how or why, but we are all like that.

Goldfish and hamsters and white mice and even the little seed in the plastic cup - they all die. So do we.
And then remember the book about Dick and Jane and the first word you learned, the biggest word of all: LOOK. Everything you need to know is in there somewhere. The Golden Rule and love and basic sanitation. Ecology and politics and sane living.

Think of what a better world it would be if we all - the whole world had cookies and milk about 3 o'clock every afternoon and then lay down with our blankets for a nap. Or if we had a basic policy in our nation and other nations to always put things back where we found them and cleaned up our own messes. And it is still true, no matter how old you are, when you go out into the world, it is best to hold hands and stick together.

Take note!!!

Because of the President's speech on Monday, May 15th the start times for 24 in certain time zones will be affected. (the real President, not President Logan...)

Take note for your taping schedules:
Eastern - Approx. 9:20pm
Central - Approx. 8:20pm
Mountain - 8:00pm
Pacific - 9:00pm

For authenticity click here

May 20th

Relay For Life of Bedford
May 20-21, 2006; 9a.m.-9a.m.
Bedford Community Football Statium

Relay For Life® is a fun-filled overnight event designed to celebrate survivorship and raise money to help the American Cancer Society save lives, help those who have been touched by cancer, and empower individuals to fight back against this disease.
During the event, teams of people gather at schools, fairgrounds, or parks and take turns walking or running laps. Each team keeps at least one team member on the track at all times. Relay is much more than a walk around a track.
It is a time to remember those lost to cancer and celebrate those who have survived.
For more details

Last year I was able to participate for the first time, it is definitely an experience! I am collecting donations for this years, if you would like to give please let me know.

The two loves of my life...

hypnotism...?

The other weekend was Whiteford's after prom, my family along with the help of the Fielder family did the photos for them. The main entertainment of the night was a hypnotist. It was insane to see! A group of four students were selected to be hypnotized. The man could just say Whiteford and then all of them would start rubbing their elbow or something like that.
For one part of it, the students were told that a roll of toilet paper was actually a million dollars and they would get part of it, but they would have to keep it out of view from the others. One of the boys in the group grabbed the paper then took off running around the gym towards the exit. He ran towards where Ryan, Cassie, and I were standing, but then the hypnotist yelled "stop!" and he completely stopped from his full out sprint. We're all laughing and enjoying the show, but then we saw the look on his face. It was one of the strangest things I have seen, he just wasn't there, it's hard to explain if you didn't see it, but it was very odd.
The next day my Mom, Matt, and I were standing in my kitchen talking about the show and the question was brought up where hypnotism stands in a Christian point of view. Matt whips out his phone and dials Pastor Pat *voicemail* But later he called back saying how hypnotism is part of all of that dark stuff: allowing yourself not to be in control, and opening yourself up to basically anything... it is like the gateway drug into darker things. (My words, not Pastor Pat)

What are your thoughts on this?

yay!

The blog is fixed! A thank you goes out to those who showed concern and an intrest in helping to fix it, aka Ernie.

SOS

I managed to kill my blog the other day, if anyone is a computer expert and would know how to put the stuff at the bottom right of my page back up to the top, please let me know. It was gone for a few days and the only way I was able to get it showing again was to have it at the bottom.

Let me know if you can help please!

give this a try

The following short quiz consists of 4 questions and will tell you whether you are qualified to be a professional. Scroll down for each answer. The questions are NOT that difficult. But don't scroll down UNTIL you have answered the question.


1. How do you put a giraffe into a refrigerator?







The correct answer is: Open the refrigerator, put in the giraffe, and close the door. This question tests whether you tend to do simple things in an overly complicated way.


2. How do you put an elephant into a refrigerator?








Did you say, Open the refrigerator, put in the elephant, and close refrigerator? Wrong Answer. Correct Answer: Open the refrigerator, take out the giraffe, put in the elephant and close the door. This tests your ability to think through the repercussions of your previous actions.


3. The Lion King is hosting an animal conference. All the animals attend ... except one. Which animal does not attend?







Correct Answer: The Elephant. The elephant is in the refrigerator. You just put him in there. This tests your memory. Okay, even if you did not answer the first three questions correctly, you still have one more chance to show your true abilities.


4. There is a river you must cross but it is used by crocodiles, and you do not have a boat How do you manage it?







Correct Answer: You jump into the river and swim across. Have you not been listening? All the crocodiles are attending the Animal Meeting. This tests whether you learn quickly from your mistakes.

**According to Anderson Consulting Worldwide, around 90% of the professionals they tested got all questions wrong, but many preschoolers got several correct answers! Anderson Consulting says this conclusively disproves the theory that most professionals have the brains of a four-year-old.

24 tonight!

Quick post before I head out to class dedicated to 24. Something big is going to happen tonight, I can feel it.
Where is my buddy Aaron Pierce at?

Anyone up for making 24 shirts?