My Globe is NOT Warming

I don’t know about anyone else, but this is absolutely ridiculous. Here I am- in the great ‘southern’ state of Texas freezing for the fifth or sixth week in a row. It has already snowed, iced, iced again, and sleeted at least a dozen times. And yet- in spite of all of that- more is on the way! HELP!!

I like winter as much as the next guy; however, I have to put my foot down. I have heard people saying how wonderful it is that we are getting all this cold weather- “Good for killing the bugs’ they say. Well I don’t think there is a single bug left. Today a co-worker of mine asked in desperation, “You think all those bugs are dead yet?” The answer is a resounding, “YES!”

As I type, a commission on Global Warming is meeting in the new democratic congress. I want to know just what they plan to discus. Over half the nation has been experiencing a very cold winter for over a month and half! I am no scientist- but the last time I turned on my heat, my house didn’t cool down (unless of course it was last winter when my circuit breaker fried and I was just basically getting nice cool air from outside).

Global warming my big fat toe. I wish my part of the globe was warm- and I hate to be the one to break the news- ITS NOT!

As a native Texan I am just not made for this. My blood is too thin for continuous cold. (I’m getting goose bumps just thinking about it.) In fact, it’s part of the rules. You know the one I am talking about. The one that states:

“Winter in the Sovereign Republic[state] of Texas shall never consist of more than thirty consecutive days of below seventy degree weather. At no time shall members of said state not be fully entitled to at least three days of seventy degree or above temperatures within the previously stated time frame.”

(And for all of you who are about to object because of this past weekend- sixty degrees is a far cry from seventy!)

There it is- lifted directly from the text of the Constitution of Texas. (If you doubt it- read through the document yourself and prove me wrong!)

I’m COLD! I’m stinking cold! I want to be warm. I want to take my shoes off and walk in a nice green yard and feel the grass beneath my feet. I want to walk outside after a warm spring shower and squish my toes in warm Texas mud. I want to walk outside and feel nothing- absolutely nothing at all, except for heat.

The only- and yes, ONLY- good thing about this winter is the anticipation of summer. I think this year I shall have to do something drastic. Perhaps I shall throw some sort of paganistic ‘Summer Solstice’ party where we come together and pay homage to the much anticipated sun.

The Game of Global Domination

"The only risk in life is the risk of risking nothing."- Us

Our colors are yellow, red, green, black, and blue. The grey pieces were gifted to Kim, although she has never played. Usually any irregular player who joins the game takes the grey pieces. The winner conquers the world- the losers are dwindled down to nothing.

Perhaps that is one of the allures of the game. You have the possibility to rule the world; a very intoxicating dream. Many men have been consumed by the desire to rule the world.

This evening I lost. My fatal flaw was showing my hand one turn too early. For once you fulfill your missions, your last mission must be revealed to the other players one hand ahead of time.

My mistake was underestimating the combined strength of the other players whose armies wiped me off the board. My continent was taken and my capitol fell. Without a capitol I was weakened beyond recovery.

The game usually follows the same pattern in the early stages- lots of fortifications and army building. Someone starts the ball rolling by attacking viciously. It’s usually the Mexican, tonight it was me. The Black Man usually wins and then a ‘discussion’ ensues in which the small town Honky insists he has won the game more than anyone, excluding the Black Man of course- which in fact the small town Honky has not.

Tonight’s game was won by the Black Man. His strategy is always the same. There is really no reason why he should win as much as he does. His game is always one of lying low until someone makes a mistake- like I did tonight, then he swipes across the board with his massive black army.

It’s the whole power thing. It just becomes so alluring that it often causes fatal pre-mature strikes. But then again, ‘risk’ is the name of the game.

Tonight’s game was exactly what it usually is. The only real difference, was the absence of blue.

Just the Usual, Please.

I talked to my brother on Sunday and he told me that he could not wait to read all about our Sunday services on ‘the blogs’. I laughed and agreed with him that everyone would have something to say about it! On the other hand, the more I got to thinking, the more I decided that perhaps I should not blog about Sunday’s service… at least not in the way he was thinking.

I was at Chili’s on Sunday night with a group of friends and one individual said something to the effect of what a great day it was. He talked about how everything seemed so ‘loosed’ in the spirit. I couldn’t agree more. I really began to think about what had happened that day, and how it had affected us as a church.

Why should anything that happens in our Apostolic services come as any surprise to anyone? Why shouldn’t a 90 year-old women be pulled back from the door of death, a man be freed from bondage? Why should any of these things really be out of the ordinary to any of us? They shouldn’t.

In truth- that is what is supposed to happen in an Apostolic church. If someone is serious about being delivered- where else would they go? If someone is in drastic need of a miracle- where else could the need be so wholly met? Apostolic churches should have services where the spirit is utterly ‘loosed’- as it was so aptly put.

So, in light of that fact, I will not be blogging about the ordinary. I will not blog about the mundane. I am not suggesting that the saving power of the blood of Jesus is mundane; however, I am simply suggesting that it should happen so often that it is not the exception, rather the rule.

To all of you who are not members of Life Tabernacle Church:

We had wonderful services on Sunday. Sis. Orange was with us and blessed us with her singing in each service. Pastor Elms declared salvation on Sunday morning and preached about the lies of Satan on Sunday evening. The two messages really dove-tailed perfectly. We had one young man who was delivered from the bondage of sin to live a new life of freedom and several members of our church were strengthen and renewed in the power of the Holy Ghost… I am sure you have heard it all before… nothing out of the ordinary… just church as it should be.

A Slave to Mr. Sandman

In the summer I would get so angry at having to go to bed while the sun was still up. I have memories of being able to look out my bedroom window at the neighborhood kids while they were playing outside and riding bikes long after my parents had sent me to bed. The sun being ‘up’ was any amount of sunlight short of all out darkness. Life was so unfair.

Monday of this week I had a planning meeting and several things to take care for the year following the meeting. Tuesday was a birthday party, and a late evening of working at home. Wednesday was church and choir practice, only to come home and be up till 1:00 working on papers that had to get graded. How I wish for those unfair childhood nights!

At one time I could stay up until all hours of the night and never be effected. I remember many nights of RISK where the evening did not end until early the next morning. Sometimes it was more than once a week. Although I had a relatively early bed time last night, I was hardly able to get up because of all the sleep I didn’t have earlier in the week. How on earth did I ever stay up so consistently late?

At twenty-eight years old I really need sleep. In fact on evenings like tonight, when it is only 10:30, my body is begging for bed. This past week it would have been so nice to have to put everything away and be ‘forced’ into bed. Somehow I think it would be a lot less of a ‘force’ than it used to be!

Often I have thought about Heaven and wondered how it could be Heaven with no sleep. I know we will never get tired, but the very idea of missing out on sleep is almost too tiring to think about! I think I shall have to find a spot somewhere nice and quite and take a little nap for the pure enjoyment of napping.

Thank God for the ability to sleep. There is nothing like going to bed completely exhausted and waking up feeling warm, snug, and content. Without beds, sheets, comforters, electric blankets, pillows, the world would be an awfully grumpy place. Just think of yourself with no sleep; now magnified by 6 billion. That would surely be the opposite of Heaven!

I hope you enjoy your bed this evening. Happy weekend sleeping to all- and to all a goodnight!

The Pig

WINTER ADVISORY IN EFFECT

The Situation

Once again the forecast proved to not be totally trustworthy. Today the sun is out in style, and although the temperature has remained in the mid to low 20's, nothing brings a new outlook and smile like the sun!

Tuesday's forecast calls for temperatures to be in the mid 30's. By Thursday and Friday the forecast calls for freezing temps and more slush.

Day 4

Freezing Temperatures & NO Freezing Slush Falling From the Sky

I am little perplexed with what to do. If the temperatures keep rising then I will no longer be able to continue my 'Winter Advisory' Web log. (After all, I am not going to keep doing the Day4, 5, 6... thing if everything returns to normal- imagine where I would be in a month or two? Day 45? Day 62? Anyway- that would make my blogs all too common- can't do that.)

Today we had scheduled a planning meeting for VBS at my house. I have called those who are attending and I think we are all in favor of trying go through with it. If we don't have the meeting, it would be virtually impossible to schedule another where everyone could attend. I am sure all of you know how that goes.

Today I am listening to Avalon's newest album- 'Faith'. Out of all the Christian groups around today, Avalon is by far the most talented and sincere. I can't tell you the times that I have been listening to their music and been ushered into the presence of God. 'Faith' is a remix of many of Gospel's favorite songs: Blessed Assurance; Holy, Holy, Holy; All Is Well; How Great Thou Art; and a new one written just for the troops in Iraq. Isn't it something how Freedom and Liberty seem to walk hand in hand with Christianity?

Enjoy your day today. Today is a holiday that commemorates a great American- not just a great 'black man'. Today is a day that we celebrate an American who rose above the status to challenge our National ideas of Freedom and Justice. Dr. Martin Luther King, a Christian minister (hum- what do know? that liberty/Christian mix again), would not want himself remembered as an 'African American', for those types of labels were the very thing he was fighting against. He would want the world to remember him as he was- an American. Enjoy your freedom today in the light of the sun!

WINTER ADVISORY IN EFFECT

The Situation

A few days ago the forecast for our area said that two major winter fronts were headed our way. We were told that we would have one this weekend, a small break in the weather, and then other the following week. Well- the forecast has since changed.

Apparently- and I will be the first to admit I am no authority on the matter- another type of front has hastened the arrival of our second winter front. Now, instead of having a break, the forecast says the temperatures will not be above freezing till possibly Wednesday or Thursday with sleet and snow possible each day. YUCK!

Just to let you know how bad it really is, Bro. Elms, my pastor, cancelled both of our Sunday services. When Life Tabernacle cancels services, its bad- especially when they cancel two in one shot. So I decided to start a ‘log’ for my ‘blog’ during our winter storm. (Since we have no idea how long this will be going on.)

Day 3
Freezing Temperatures & Freezing Slush Falling From the Sky

Today I attended church in Alexandria, LA. Apparently the church in Alexandria has a webcast of each service- very modern. The service was really good. Bro. Willabee (spelled phonetically- might be wrong) preached on, ‘Get a Word.’

He talked about how God is in the revealing business, not in the ‘hid and seek’ business. If we are to continually hear the voice of God, we need to make sure we are listening and obeying his voice. I thought it was very good- and on some levels seemed to work with what has been happening in our church lately.

Life Tabernacle seems to find herself once again with an undercurrent of something spectacular about to happen. As a church, we need to make certain we are listening and obeying the command of God.

Yesterday, I made some homemade chicken soup- everything from scratch. The only thing it was missing was an onion. I went to the store on Friday afternoon to buy groceries for this weekend (thank God I did) and there were people everywhere! They were completely sold out of onions! Onions are not a mass quantity item. Anyone who sells out of onions has had a lot of business.

United Market Street, a local grocer here in town, was completely out of bread. The one I went to had one package of hamburger buns left and five empty shelves. It was much worse than any Thanksgiving I can remember. O well- without the onions my soup was good even if I do say so myself.

I have no idea where I shall attend church this evening. If you know of any other churches that webcast services, let me know. Although the experience was neat- it sure makes you happy you have a church to attend. I think of all of the people in our world who live in remote places and only have webcast services. It’s great that they are able to get something- and I am sure they are very grateful- but thank God for my physical, wood, brick, & personable church!

Playing With Pansies

Anyone remember the Presidential Debates in the 2004 election? Remember that lone woman who stood up and asked the President if he had anything to apologize to the American people about: a mistake he had made, an untruth, a wrong decision?

Well Wednesday he gave the wolves what they have been wanting for the last several years. The President said to the Nation that if mistakes have been made in this war then the responsibility rests with him. In other words, he simply showed us how much of a man he is. (The real reason the Democrats are in a hussy.)

Let’s assume for one moment that he actually did need to apologize. Let’s assume that simply because President George W. Bush exists, a dictator named Saddam randomly killed innocent men, women, and children for no other reason than his pleasure. While we are pretending, we might as well pretend that he has single handedly destroyed our economy, prostituted faith with government, and so totally alienated us that none of our ‘friends’ will ever want to come over and play anymore.

As a true patriot, if someone really believes this pretending, I hold to the conviction that they actually have a right to live- unlike some countries. (i.e. Saddam’s Iraq- where you could be killed for what you believe.)

Apologize for what? Apologize because he understood, like Jefferson, that the “tree of liberty must from time to time be refreshed with the blood of tyrants and patriots.” The very nature of our existence compels us to act in the best interest of liberty no matter where it may be.

Democrats would have Americans believe that just because the path is more than we bargained for, cut and run! Its no wonder Democrats are socialistic Darwin believers who murder innocent children and marry Sodomites. The majority would find no value in the difficult yet rewarding journey of the Christian walk.

In that very same Presidential debate, still Senator Kerry was asked by a member of the audience (and I paraphrase) would you cut and run? The still Senator’s response was (and I quote) “Anthony, I would not.”

Well that was then, when he actually thought he might grow up to be President one day, and this is now (and I quote): “[still]Senator Kerry strongly opposes the Bush administration’s plan for expanding the U.S. troop presence.”

As the enemy has become more emboldened with each new attack, still Senator Kerry and the rest of the Democrats want to do just what they said they would never do! They want to cut and run! But then again it's ok to be a pansy in a non-election year.

While President Bush is presenting medals to brave men like Corporal Jason Dunham, who jumped onto an explosive devise to save his men, Democrats like Kerry and wishy-washy Republicans are thinking of pulling the strings on war funding.

Apologize indeed. The only way Democrats would be happy is if President Bush actually had destroyed the healthy free-market economy of the United States. They would sing his praises for doing things the Clinton way and prostituting anything. They would declare a national holiday at the very thought of the United States bowing to the feeble hand of the United Nations.

If anyone should apologize it should be the framers of the constitution for not making a difference between free speech and ignorant speech.

Closer Than A Brother

Several years ago (about 27 to be exact) I was given a gift from God. It was, in all likelihood, one of the greatest gifts He ever gave me. This gift has been a constant source of strength for me in every moment of my life. My gift- my brother- has been the best part me for 27 years. A few days ago, I helped my brother move to the Dallas/Ft. Worth metro area and the only thing I kept thinking was, “Alright God, you just took my Father only ten months ago.”

I know my brother’s move to Dallas was God’s will, but I feel no conviction for not liking His will; however, I will gladly give him up if it means that God will use him and bless his ministry in a way that glorifies the Lord and fulfills my brother’s life. There are no words to express my pride for my brother and the joy for what God will do for him. I will miss him more than words can explain, even if it is just a hundred miles or so.

Knowing for the last few weeks that he would be moving has placed a certain scripture on my mind like never before.

“A man who has friends must himself be friendly, But there is a friend who sticks closer than a brother.” -Proverbs 18:24 NJKV

I believe that there are some scriptures in the word of God that cannot be truly understood until you have experienced some of life. If you are wise enough to look, a lot of our daily lives are the way they are just so God can show us small pictures of Himself. I think this scripture is a picture of our God through something all too mundane to many of us.

I read an issue in Time Magazine not too long ago that talked about brothers and sisters and the underappreciated significance of each. From the moment we start on life’s journey most of use have a brother or sister. Through each step of our life they are somewhere not too far away taking their own steps not too far behind nor ahead. Your playmate through childhood, the only one who really seems to understand you in the confusion of teen years, a best friend as a young adult, a respected and admired peer in the prime of life, and a companion who has been in almost every memory at the end of the journey.

Some will lose their siblings long before they should, but for most of use they will walk with us through most of our life. Siblings outlive parents, and long after spouses have passed, most of them will still be there. If you have a sibling, then you know what I am talking about. I am talking about a friend who seems closer than ‘just’ a friend. Someone who knows you- really knows you. Someone who can finish your sentences, someone who knows how you will react- knows what you are thinking. We are as proud of their accomplishments as if they are our own, yet all too often we seldom tell them so.

How interesting it is that the writer of Proverbs chose to say, ‘…there is a friend who sticks closer than a brother.’ Is there any other way to really bring the point home concerning the closeness of our heavenly Father? For myself, and anyone else who has a brother or sister, I think not.

The words of that scripture were divinely inspired by the one who created the very relationship between brothers and sisters. To know that God is closer than someone who has been with you through every moment of your life, to know that He is closer than the one(s) who have shared in every joy and sorrow; what a powerful truth! I am blessed to know this truth. I am blessed to have a God who is so personal to me that He is closer than the truest, deepest, closest friend I have. How great my God- my savior- is!

And to my brother, I love you Jason.

My 5

Internet games are not my forte; however, I have been ‘tagged’ by a fellow blogger. Imagine that? Anyway, I am supposed to list five things about myself that others might not know. How scary is that? I mean whoever came up with such a game anyway? You never know what things might be revealed with such a game. Well… here goes… (read on only if you dare)

1.) I have an authentic Oscar Mayer Wiener Whistle from the Wienermobile. If you have ever seen the movie ‘The Santa Clause’ with Tim Allen, then you know exactly what I am talking about. You blow this little wiener and it makes a high pitched sound. Very cool and currently selling for $15.00 on e-bay I might add.

2.) A few years ago I was complaining about not having enough experience to list on my professional portfolio. My boss decided to fix that by nominating me to be on the calendar committee for the WFISD. A job that no one really likes because you have to determine when people go to school, when they don’t go to school, which holidays we will be out, which holidays we will not have out… on and on. So many people grip about it all that you never really want anyone knowing your one of the people who decided such things. Anyway, it’s a real pain.

3.) I was… and this is a big one… in fact… you might want to skip this one! I was caught cheating on a final in high school. My teacher was livid. She removed me from the room instantly. She told me that I would be reported to the counselors’ office and lose my credit for the semester. I was very afraid because this would cause me to have to retake the class at a later date, possibly messing up my graduation time. Right after school I went back to that teacher and basically groveled on the floor. I begged and begged. Confessed and poured my soul out to her. Thankfully she had mercy on me. She allowed me to come into the class and retake the final the next day. She never reported it and it was a dead issue. Up until that point, it was probably the most scared I had ever been in my life.

4.) The number 13 has always been a favorite number of mine. I don’t know why, other than the fact that it seems to be a sort of misunderstood number. Entire buildings have been constructed without the number 13 anywhere in them. It kinda makes you feel sorry for it. I have also always had a fondness for the number 23. (Now that I see both of these numbers together, it might be a number three thing!)

5.) I dream ALL the time. I know that technically everyone dreams all the time, but I can almost always remember what I dreamed the night before. I also have a lot of reoccurring dreams. Sometimes my dreams are very vivid in color and other times they are very vivid in texture. I once had a dream where everything was two-dimensional and felt like bubble warp. I remember the texture of everything in that dream as if I dreamed it last night, which by the way I did not.


There, I completed the task laid out before me. Don’t think that just because I did this I am now open to those sappy internet stories and make-me-feel good poems. Nor am I now into those ridiculous e-grams that promise this or that depending on how many people you send it to. My official stance is that I am still opposed to all of that nonsense. Now that I have said all that… I tag my friends Kristopher and Keith Clark... I am also tagging Jane, a complete stranger who happens to like the same book I do (I think).
Have fun all!

Welcome to 2007

It's that magical time of year when we feel as if we get a whole new slate to scribble our sometimes hectic and messy lives all over. During the next few days several of use, myself included, will try and come up with some sort of list, mentally or actually written down, that gives a primitive outline of things we want to accomplish this year or things we want to see done (The vast majority of use will have losing weight as one of them).

If you have not made a list, or perhaps you are one of those who do not make a list of New Year Resolutions, then dare to live on the edge- do so! You may not lose the weight, slow life down a little, or pray everyday like you want to; however, failure is hardly the point. All of life is accomplished with minor changes in direction.

Set some goals. Come up with some things that you want to see happen this next year. Even if you accomplish only one, you are one step closer to the person you want to be. I have included an 'official' list of the top 10 New Year Resolutions for Americans.

Top-Ten New Year's Resolutions

Spend more time with family and friends
Find time for a workout
Lose Weight
Slow Down
Quit Drinking
Get out of Debt
Learn Something New
Volunteer Somewhere
Get Organized

If you need a little more convincing to join the 'resolution club' read this article by Dr. Ralph F. Wilson. He makes a very good case for resolutions. Happy New Year to all of you!