"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