Pastor Brian's Mushpot of Life

Android App of the Week: Universal Password Manager

2012-02-03T15:56:00.001-08:00

If you are like me, you do a lot of business online. I do my banking, pay my bills, do social networking, manage blogs, keep up with multiple email accounts, buy and sell, and a variety of other thing on the web. All of them are password protected. But because many of them have different password criteria, or I opened the accounts at different phases in my life, very few of them have the same user name & password. This was a constant cause of frustration, usually around payday, or the first of the month when things came due.

Enter Universal Password Manager (UPM)! This is a free app on the Android Marketplace that allows to to keep all of your account names, user names, passwords, site URLs, and other notes, all in one place on your tablet and/or phone securely locked up under one master password. The interface is very easy, and, as far as I can tell, there is no limit to the number of accounts you can save in it. It works very well on my Toshiba Thrive tablet. It has been a God send for me. The other advantage is, I now have that I for in a central location that my wife can access as well if something were to ever happen to me. I give this app two thumbs up, because it is free and extremely useful and helpful. That's what an app should be in my book!

Real Marriage Weekend

2012-02-03T15:39:00.001-08:00

Tonight, my wife and I are going to the Real Marriage Tour put on by Pastor Mark Driscoll of Mars Hill Church and his wife, Grace. This tour is based on the book of the same name written by the couple and just released last month. I haven't read the book, but I have listened to the first of Pastor Mark's current sermon series based on the book via podcast. I am very excited for what is to come. The conference itself is short (just 6 hours with 3-hour sessions on Friday night and Saturday morning) but I've seen God do a lot more in less time. Although the conference is fairly local, my wife and I have decided to make this a mini retreat of sorts by getting a hotel room and sending the kids off for sleepovers. This gives us an important opportunity to do some "marriage maintenance. In a world where we see relationships crumbling all around us like old dilapidated buildings and Satan is at work to destroy ministers of God and their families, every investment we can make to strengthen our marriage is a good one. It will be nice to get away alone for some quality time together letting God speak truth into our lives to strengthen the bond He has created between us.

Teenagers: They're Everything They Were Cracked Up To Be

2012-01-31T11:53:00.000-08:00

WARNING: This is a rant meant only to vent my frustrations. It's not too late to turn back.

For Christmas (and his birthday) my wife and I bought my oldest son his letterman jacket. He lettered in Cross Country and Swim last year and has held this jacket at the forefront of his mind and every conversation for the last 8 months or so. He spent hours designing it in his mind, talking about how cool it would be. We finally got it ordered in late November with hopes that it may be ready before Christmas Day, but it wasn't. He was obviously disappointed, having asked about it every day in December leading up to Christmas. The day finally arrived. I paid the last of the $435 price and he had his prized jacket.

As luck would have it, the California winter went on vacation and the temperature was in the mid 80s for a week. That didn't stop him from wearing the jacket (all black, by the way, with gold trim) to show it off to his friends. Now the weather has cooled off again, but I've noticed he hasn't worn the jacket. I see him wearing some different hoodies and such, but not the $435 jacket that he begged me for. This morning as I was driving him to school, it was 37 degrees outside. He was in shorts and t-shirt, but no jacket.

"So how come you don't wear your letterman jacket?" I said, "I think I've only seen you where it 4 or 5 times in the little over a month you've had it. And now it's freezing and you're not wearing it?"

He looks at me casually and says, "I don't want to wear it everyday. That's overkill. I don't want it to get messed up."

"What the...? I didn't pay $435 of my hard earned money for a jacket to hang there in your closet! You've only got a year and a half left of high school, so you better wear it everyday you can." Then he hit me with the one thing he knows I can't stand!

"Nobody else wears their letterman jacket everyday." It took all of my willpower not to pull the car over and strangle him dead right then and there. All I could muster was, "Well, I didn't pay $435 for everybody else's letterman jacket. That's between them and their parents. You better put it to use, or I'm gonna give it to a homeless lady who will wear it everyday, over her four other coats, rain or shine!"

He shook his head in the "Parents just don't understand" way that teenagers do. I can only sit back and remember the thought my father had shared with me so many times: "I just want to live long enough to see your kids do to you, everything you've done to me." Thanks, Dad. Now, I'm invoking that curse on my own child and just waiting for the day when I, like you these days, can just sit back and laugh.

Android App of the Week: Out of Milk

2012-01-23T18:37:00.000-08:00

Due to illness and a short week due to the MLK holiday last week, I did not get my Android App of the Week post up. But this is my blog and I can do what I want to. So, this week will feature not one, but TWO Android App of theWeek posts. Without further delay, here is the first one:

When I first got my Toshiba Thrive tablet, I searched the internet looking for lists of the best, most useful, and most fun Android apps out there, and Out of Milk appeared on a good number of those lists. So, I figured I would give it a try. In my household, I do the majority of the grocery shopping. One of the issues I always have with it is trying to remember what I need to get. I often make lists, but usually can't remember all that needs to be on the list. Enter Out of Milk.

Out of Milk is primarily a grocery list app, but it has some cool perks that I enjoy. I can enter an item on the list by typing it in. Out of Milk has a huge database of different items that are available in a dropdown menu as soon as you start typing to make it even faster. I can speak my item onto the list which is just plain cool. And to really turn up the cool factor, I can scan the barcode on an item and it will find that item in it's database or on the internet and add it to the list. This gives you so much more detail on your grocery list. For example, my wife brought home some new Colby Cheez-It Crackers. We all loved them and wanted more...the Colby ones. So, I scanned the barcode into Out of Milk, and it brought up the name of the cracker, the flavor, even the size of the box! It's that easy!

Take your phone or tablet to the grocery store and with a click and drag you can reorganize items on the list, and cross them off as they make their way into your cart. There is also a pantry listing which includes a spice rack where you can keep inventory of those essential items that you like to always have on hand in the pantry, but may only need to be purchased every few months. As an added bonus, there is a to-do list. I believe there are better apps out there devoted to "to-do lists", but this one can be of some use too.

I have made two grocery store runs with Out of Milk and both have been a success. I start my grocery lists early and keep it ongoing throughout the week so I don't forget stuff. I haven't used the barcode scanner very often; only in cases where there was a specific new item that wasn't familiar. My teenage daughter accompanied me on one trip and she had no trouble navigating through the app. If you're looking for a useful app that will make your grocery shopping a more organized experience, Out of Milk is my personal recommendation.

Superstitious? Not me!

2012-01-13T11:44:00.001-08:00

Friday the 13th always brings with it a discussion of superstitions that I find amusing. I was once a superstitious person to some degree. There was the carry over from the childish games and rumors we had as a kid. "Step on a crack, break your mama's back." Or "If you get slapped on the back while crossing your eyes, they'll get stuck like that." As a child these things carried a lot of weight with us. So, we would go around making sure not to walk under ladders, or breaking any mirrors. We made sure to throw salt over our shoulder if we spilled some.We would cringe at the thought of a black cat crossing our path. And Heaven forbid someone would dare to open an umbrella indoors.

As I got older, most of my supersttions revolved around sports. I had to have the same conditions every time I watched my favorite team play. When I played basketball, I had ritual things that I would do. My socks had to be folded a certain way. I put my uniform on in the same order before every game. One season in college, I ate a half dozen glazed donuts and drank a quart of milk 3 hours before game time. (In hindsight, definitely not a wise choice as I am now a 37 year-old Type 2 diabetic.) My coach would walk around on game days searching the ground for a penny. Not just any penny. It had to be a heads up penny. I thought it was silly, but I certainly understood.

Now, as a Christian, a pastor, and a father, I don't have anymore superstitions. For me, superstitions mean fear. Fear that if you do or don't do something, something bad will happen to you or someone else. But now, I know that God is Sovereign and in control. His desire is not for me to be controlled by fear. Superstitions have no place in my life or the life of any Christ follower. Our trust is in Him and our submission to His will should direct our actions. And when you live in that truth there is freedom. Freedom to let black cats cross and step on cracks in the sidewalks. John 8:36 says, "If the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed." Happy Friday the 13th!

Android App of the Week: StumbleUpon

2012-01-11T23:44:00.000-08:00

With my new Toshiba Thrive tablet, I've begun searching for apps that are fun and useful. There are certain apps that are really suited for phones, but others that just don't do it for me on such a small format. The tablet, however, has made the plethora of applications available on the Android Market interesting to me again. So, each week I will showcase one of the apps that I have discovered and tell what I like about it and what I don't.

This week's app is StumbleUpon. I don't really know what category this app fall under, but it is a very fun and entertaining app for those internet lovers out there. After setting up an account, the user then tells StumbleUpon what categories they are interested in. There is a very wide variety of interest to choose from and, there is no limit to the number you can choose. Next, you can find friends from your contacts that also use StumbleUpon and connect with them. Now, it's time to Stumble through the internet. With a swipe of the screen, you are taken to a random webpage that fits into one of the categories you selected. You have a choice of "Liking" or "Disliking" the page. You can easily share your findings on Facebook, Twitter, Blogger, and a number of different ways.

I love this app, because it takes me through a bunch of obscure web pages that I most likely would never find on my own. They are always within my interest, and I've thouroghly enjoyed it. This is one of those apps that you can just click on when you are bored and go for a ride on the information superhighway. StumbleUpon also keeps track of the web pages that you "Like" so that you can easily access them later. If you have a tablet, I highly suggest that you download the StumbleUpon app! You won't regret it, and it FREE!

New Year's Resolutions: 2012 Edition

2012-01-10T12:52:00.000-08:00

Each and every year, I, like many other people, make some New Year's resolutions. These are usually some things that I would like to attempt in the new year for various reasons. What usually happens is that I run out of interest or energy or desire to keep up my pursuit of the resolution, and the notion goes on the back burner until the following year. This year I have a new string of pursuits that I'd like to document here for the sake of accountability.

Naturally, I resolve to do all of the "healthy" things I'm supposed to do: Lose weight, keep my blood sugar and blood pressure under control, loosen medication's grip on my lifestyle, blah, blah, blah! Aside from that, there are some different endeavors:

1. I want to take a large stride this year toward becoming a better husband & father. I realize that I'm leaving a legacy behind me in my children. When they look back at who they're father was, I don't think they'll say, "He weighed..." (At least I hope not.) I want them to look back and see that I was a solid Christian man who loved their mother unconditionally and sacrificed & worked hard for them to have a chance in life. I'm not very good at either, but I try. In 2012, I will try harder. That may mean, I'll read more books on parenting & relationships. I may attend a conference or retreat with my wife. I may teach or preach on parenting & marriage more this year. (I always learn so much in my preparation to teach & preach on a subject.) However it takes shape, I resolve to be a better husband & father in January 2013, than I am in January 2012.

2. I want to increase ministry influence through online media. I've been wanting to do this for a long time, but I always felt like I didn't have enough time or the right tools. I'm realizing that I have had the time and the tools, I just haven't put them to the proper use. I recognize that there is a big window of opportunity for me to reach people with the Gospel, speak truth into their lives, and offer prayer support through Facebook, Twitter, this blog, and other sources that are out there. So, I resolve to post more frequently to this blog of random stuff, as well as my other blogs, and to keep the Tweets flowing in 2012.

3. I want to read more books. I love to read, but in the past few years, I have been bogged down with mandatory reading (not my favorite) and distracted by television and video games. The Playstation 3, although it is uber-fun and entertaining, has put a serious damper on the amount of reading I have done. I aim to change this. I resolve to read at least 1 hour a day, everyday, giving precedent to books over television and video games. So far, 10 days into 2012, I've finished one book and I'm half way into another.

Well, there you have it. My New Year's resolutions for 2012 are recorded, and I hope that in a year I can look back and see that I've accomplished more than what I set out to do.

New Year, New Gizmo!

2012-01-05T15:48:00.000-08:00

Like most guys, I love gizmos and gadgets! Nobody knows that better about me than my wife. I’m usually dreaming about and drooling over a new gizmo/gadget every 6 months or so. (Just for the record, I define a gizmo as something made to entertain me with lights, buttons, bells, whistles, and such. A gadget is not designed necessarily for my entertainment, but rather to make my life easier. Great gadgets are entertaining like a gizmo, and great gizmos are useful like a gadget.) This year my wife surprised me at Christmas with a great new gizmo that has a lot of usefulness. In the week and a half since Christmas I have used it for hours and hours every day! It’s the Toshiba Thrive Tablet!

I have been dreaming about an iPad2 since they came out. I’ve been devising a plan to get one for some time, but circumstances and finances have not let me get very far down that road. It’s a good thing. My wife (who is not very tech-savvy) picked the perfect tablet for me. I think I’m only scratching the surface of the possibilities with the Thrive, but thus far these are the things that I love about it.

1. THE PRICE. I got the 16GB model which comes in at around $400. That’s a steal when you look at what it can do and compare it to other comparable tablets.

2. THE SIZE. The Thrive has a 10.1” screen. I have big hands and I like to feel like I’m holding something that isn’t going to slip through my fingers when I’m trying to use it. The other 7” tablets on the market don’t feel much bigger than my Droid X phone in my hand. Also, the larger screen means the on-screen keyboard is larger for my fat fingers to type easily.

3. THE OPERATING SYSTEM. The Thrive runs on Android’s 3.1 Honeycomb OS which is optimized for tablets. I like it because I am already very familiar with the Android OS from my phone. It is very easy for me to navigate and manage the setting. Plus, when I login to my Google account, the tablet synced seamlessly with all of the apps I already had downloaded on my Android phone!

4. THE MEMORY & PORTS. This Thrive as 16GB of internal memory, but wait there’s more! LOL! It has a full-sized SD card slot! (My 32GB SD card is on the way!) If that isn’t enough, the Thrive has a full-sized USB port, a Micro-USB port, and a full-sized HDMI port! I’ll eventually be storing files on my external hard drive too.

5. THE APPS. I’ve been using Android apps on my phone, but not to many. I find some to be very useful on the phone but not many. I don’t really play games (just Words with Friends) on my phone. But the Thrive has unlocked a whole new world for me as far as the apps go. It comes with some very useful ones like Skype. (The Thrive has two cameras. A 5 MP cam on the back, and a 2 MP on the front. Neither is real impressive, but they get the job done.) Quick Office and LogMeIn Ignition are also pre-loaded on the Thrive. In the future I will be reviewing some of the other great apps that I come across. So keep an eye out for more apps!

6. REPLACEABLE BATTERY. The Thrive has a replaceable battery. As far as I know, it’s the only tablet out there with one thus far. It’s fairly easy to get to. The back plate (Which, btw, is textured for grip and can be replaced with a more colorful one to suit your taste. Mine is Blue Moon.) comes off and goes back on easily.

7. NETFLIX! I can watch Netflix in HD on the Thrive. I just put in my account info, and there was my “Instant Queue” waiting for me. So, when my wife wants to watch “The Sound of Music” for the umpteenth time, I can just grab my headphones, Thrive, and head on off to Netflix-land!

Yes, 2012 has started off on a great note with this new gizmo! I highly recommend it to you if you like the Android OS and are looking for a tablet that isn’t lacking anything you need for a great price. The Toshiba Thrive is for you!

Superhero Movie Marathon Follow-up

2012-01-04T19:27:00.000-08:00

The morning of Day 2 of the Superhero Movie Marathon, I was way too sleepy to write another blog post. So, I'll let you know now how the second day went. After 4 hours of sleep, we piled onto the couch for another round of cinematic superhero goodness. For time's sake (we had a Christmas Eve Eve party to attend that evening) we cut out the animated lead-ins I had planned for each movie and got right down to it. The morning started with "The Dark Knight" which is just one of my personal favorites. Heath Ledger's Joker is the best on screen villain ever! Next up was this past summer's "Thor." This was an important piece to cover as it leads into next summer's "The Avengers," which I'm hoping will be the main event at the 2012 Superhero Movie Marathon. (That's right! Somewhere during the day, we decided that this was just too cool and needed to be an annual event!) After Thor, everyone was hungry, stiff and sleep deprived. So we took a break to feed our faces, stretch our legs and power nap. We finished the day with "X-Men Origins: Wolverine." It was a great end to a great event! I can't wait for the 2012 event, (people are already reserving spots) which will feature "The Avengers", "The Dark Knight Rises", "Iron Man 3", and "Amazing Spider-Man" which all hit the theaters this summer!

Superhero Movie Marathon

2011-12-22T17:25:00.000-08:00

My little sister-in-law, Sarah (age 17) has shown a recent interest in comic books and comic book movies. (I believe the gratuitous beefcake of this past summer's "Green Lantern" and "Captain America: The First Avenger" played a big part in that.) Nevertheless, being the ambassador of geekdom that I am, I have started giving her graphic novels to read and scheduled a "Superhero Movie Marathon" for our Christmas break.

The idea is to give her a cinematic background on some of Hollywood's favorites through movies and animated series from the past few decades. So here is a tentative schedule for the first night:

X-Men (1992 Animated Series)- Enter Magneto
X-Men: First Class
Justice League (2002 Animated Series)-In League
Superman (Christopher Reeve!)
Avengers: Earth's Mightiest Heroes (2010 Animated Series)-Hulk vs. The World
The Incredible Hulk
Hellboy

I'll post tomorrow's schedule in the morning!

New Blog

2011-07-12T12:48:00.000-07:00

Yesterday, I was diagnosed with Type 2 Diabetes, and now I'm facing a dramatically different lifestyle. One of my coping mechanisms is to create a new blog to neglect for months at a time much like this one. Diabetes will change my life, but it will not dominate nor define my life. So, I thought I would keep my thoughts and musings about that somewhere else. If you'd like to see them, check out The High (Blood Sugar) Road.

Ctrl+Alt+Del

2011-02-17T14:01:00.000-08:00

Ok, so it's been about a year and a half since the last post. Time to reboot this bad boy and get to blogging again. I don't have any other reason for jumping back in other than I feel like my brain will slowly dissolve into mush if I don't start writing frequently again. I'll probably start out with some writing prompts and go from there. I'm not getting any younger so I want to be observing, processing, and commenting on as much as possible. Peace.

Countdown to CrossPointe T-minus 13 Days & Counting

2009-07-20T15:55:00.001-07:00

So last night the congregation of First Baptist Church voted to accept a merger proposal package that called for:

1. A merger with NorthWinds Church
2. Changing the church name to CrossPointe Community Church
3. Changing the church's structure of government from congregational leadership to elder leadership
4. Some changes in ministry leadership positions.

This entire process has by far been the toughest thing I've been through in ministry. Why God would put this on my plate at the very beginning of my first go around in the position of Sr. Pastor is beyond me. However, He did make his presence known to me every step of the way. The confidence of knowing that God was in the merge made this a much easier endeavor for me, though it still had many difficulties. It gave me a chance to define my ministry as one that will be led by the Holy Spirit and will stand firm on the Word of God rather than the traditions of man.

So, today we move forward. Our official merger date is August 2nd, and there are a ton of things that need to happen before that date. The change over will be a rough process for some of us and not so rough for others. If we all come into this with a spirit of humility and allow God to have His way with us, then we'll be fine. People who have been leading ministries may be asked to relenquish their position to give way to someone that is better suited for the task. Our challenge as church leaders is to find the positions that will be the best fit for all involved. Our goal is focused, quality leadership for all areas of ministry. We'll see how it goes. I expect some feelings will be hurt, and I understand that is part of the process. I'm still praying about how to deal with those that walked away from this part of the process angry and hurt. It's not my desire to lose anyone, but I realize that some pruning must take place before growth can occur. I'm ok with that. I still have a problem with someone directing their anger at me because of their preferences and what they are comfortable with. I will accept, and I encourage any rebuke that comes from a biblical standpoint. If I'm falling short of the standard in the Word, then by all means tell it like it is.

Tomorrow we put our strategy into action, and prepare to present our "new" church to the world. 13 days until CrossPointe takes off, and I'm praying it takes off with a bang! Lord, be with us.

"Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen."- Hebrews 11:1

What A Difference A May Makes

2009-06-01T16:13:00.000-07:00

It’s been a while since the last time I fired up the ol’ blog, but I have much to share here today. The month of May, my birth month, is traditionally a good month for me. This past May has, by far, been the most exceptional of the 35 I’ve had. There have been the usual celebratory events that go along with the self-proclaimed month long birthday celebration, but there have also been some life changing events take place as well. So, here is a run down of the highlights of my May to remember.

1. May 4th I was accepted as a member of the Rotary Club of Fontana. I was introduced to the club by one of our church members and after much prayer and consideration I decided to apply for membership. There are a couple of reasons for doing so. First, I have had a desire to join a service organization for some time now. I was inspired by my grandparents who were long time members of the Lions Club. I like what the Rotary Club is doing in the City of Fontana. I believe that as the pastor of a prominent church in the city, I have a responsibility to be a part of the positive activities in our city. Second, the Rotary Club gives me an opportunity to get to know and work along side some very influential people. I know this may sound superficial, but in our society, often it is who you know, not what you know that is most important. The exposure in the city is not only good for me personally, but will have a positive effect on the church as we look to expand our ministry and sphere of influence in a new part of town.

2. On May 5th, I got a call from my dad wanting me to come by his house. He said he had something to tell me, but he didn’t want to tell me on the phone. I immediately thought, “This is bad news.” Nobody is ever reluctant to share good news over the phone, right? So, after spending some time in prayer, asking the Lord to strengthen me and prepare me for whatever horrible news may be coming, I went over to my dad’s house. He immediately reassured me that his health was fine. He started into a story that began with a phone call he received from a lady he dated while he was in the Navy. This lady told him they have a son together. What a shock! To make a long story short, DNA tests confirmed the story and my dad does have another son. I HAVE A BROTHER!! Unbelievable! I have an older brother that none of us ever knew about. I am so excited about it, I’ve told just about everyone I come into contact with. I emailed him the next day to let him know that I am happy to have a new addition to the family and I can’t wait to meet him. Also, he has two kids, and is getting married this month. So, I have a new niece, nephew, and sister-in-law. Crazy! I will finally get to meet them all on Father’s Day weekend, and I can hardly stand the wait.

3. May 6th I got a call from a good friend who somehow came across some very inexpensive tickets to Game 2 of the Lakers/Rockets series. So on back-to-back days I got a new brother and got to go to a Lakers playoff game for the first time. It was a great game. The Lakers won, behind 40 points from Kobe.

4. May 9th I sat down to talk with the pastor search committee at church to answer some questions they had about me, my vision and goals for the church as we move forward. It was a great opportunity for me to vocalize who I believe God has called me and shaped me to be as a pastor. It was a good discussion that I felt very confident about.

5. May 14th-16th For my birthday, Darcy took the day off work and we went to Disneyland & California Adventure. I got in free to Disneyland for my birthday and we decided to just go ahead and purchase annual passes. This is something we’ve wanted to do for quite a while and we were finally in a position to make it happen. We stayed over a couple of nights in a hotel across the street and had a wonderful time just getting away from work and kids for the weekend.

6. May 17th First Baptist Church and Northwinds Church met together for a joint worship service. It was an opportunity for us to experience what our worship service would look and sound like if we decide to merge our churches together. It was an awesome time of worship. We had a potluck afterward so that everyone had a chance to mingle and get to know each other better. Also, the pastor search committee presented their recommendation of calling me as the senior pastor to the church. This was a bit of a surprise to me. I thought it would take them a little longer to make their decision, but they seemed very confident in their choice. The day was awesome and it built a lot of excitement about what the future could look like. There are still some hurdles to overcome, but this day together did a lot to overcome them.

7. May 24th Memorial Day weekend is the celebration of the church’s anniversary and this was a special one. It would be our 64th and last in the building we currently occupy. It was also a day that the church would vote to call me as the 10th pastor in the church’s history. The vote passed 120-8 and I became next in the line of great pastors who have served First Baptist Church Fontana before me. I never, in my wildest dreams, thought that I would someday be the pastor of this church. But God has worked in some amazing ways to put the pieces in place to do an awesome work for the kingdom through this church. It is awesome to be in the midst of His will and an integral part of his plan. We had a big celebration, but in the back of my mind, I knew the real difficult task was just beginning.

8. May 29th The Lakers beat the Nuggets by 27 points, sending them to the NBA Finals for the second consecutive year. As a lifelong Laker fan, this makes me very, very happy. I hope they can continue to play with the same intensity they have had over the last 2 games and will remember the sting of last year’s embarrassing loss to the Celtics. GO LAKERS!!

Well, that about sums up my incredible month of May. I won’t ever forget it. Hopefully, as I move into June, I will continue to find time to record my journey more than once every few months.

Voluntary Taxes?

2009-01-29T11:21:00.000-08:00

Unbelievable that somebody this ignorant can be elected to the United States Senate.

Maybe taxes are voluntary in Nevada, where casino patrons pay for everything, but I really doubt the IRS is going to let me decide I don't want pay.

Dear Mr. President

2009-01-23T09:13:00.000-08:00

Dear Mr. President,

First off, congratulations on your historic run to the White House. I understand why everyone is so excited about our first black president, and I wish you well as you embark on your journey in our nation's toughest job during our nation's toughest economic times. I must admit that I am not very educated when it comes to economic policy, and I don't even have a suggestion of how to relieve the financial stress in our country. However, I have to question the wisdom in taking taxpayer money to fund international abortion clinics. Two questions come to mind: 1) Is this wise use of taxpayer money in a time when our country is struggling financially? 2) Is there some sort of long term vision behind this to help our economic woes by keeping the population down? I just don't understand the rationale behind this move other than, "It's what Democratic presidents after Reagan do" or a "Thank you" to all of the pro-abortion campaign funding you received. One of you backers in this article is quoted

"Women's health has been severely impacted by the cutoff of assistance. President Obama's actions will help reduce the number of unintended pregnancies, abortions and women dying from high-risk pregnancies because they don't have access to family planning," said Tod Preston, a spokesman for Population Action International, an advocacy group.

I don't understand how spending my tax dollars to fund abortions "will help reduce the number of unintended pregnancies." It would make more sense to spend money on abstinence education to prevent unintended pregnancies. Maybe drop a few bucks on literature that promotes alternatives to killing your baby would be wise too. Anyway, you've been given the keys to the country and I'm just along for the ride. I want to be on your "HOPE" band wagon, and I'm all in for a little change, as I am not very happy with the condition our country has been left in by the previous administration. But, in your first few days in office, all I have learned about you is: your just like Clinton (except you really are black), you strive to appease those that only want to destroy us, you will force us to pay for the destruction of the defenseless children that would be our future, you can't dance, and you got a really nice new car. Congratulations! Rest assured that I am praying for you, and I do have "HOPE" that even you can "CHANGE."

Sincerly,

Brian Simms
Political Anomaly

The Lord of the Rings

2008-12-03T13:06:00.000-08:00

My wife and I have been without wedding rings for about the past 8 years. Why? Let's just say there was a time when I was exceptionally good at being both young and dumb. Times were difficult. Financially and emotionally we were at the end of our rope. Bills were piling up. Paychecks were small. Tempers were short. On one particular day, rather than ask for help. . . again, I decided to take the only things of value we owned (our wedding rings) and pawn them for some cash to keep the lights on and put some food on the table. It seemed like a valid idea at the time. I had plans to get the rings back in a couple of weeks when we had some money. Those couple of weeks stretched out into a couple of months. Those couple of months multiplied into too many more months. The rings were lost for good.

Fast forward 8 years. God has showered down an abundance of blessing on me and my wife. He has gently put the pieces of our broken marriage back together and glued them together with His love. He has taught us to trust Him with our finances. He has shown me His purpose for my life, and carefully directed me down the right path. My wife and I have reached new heights in our relationship with each other and with God. We have learned (and are still learning), like the apostle Paul (Phil. 4:11), to be content in every circumstance. We understood that our rings, while very precious, were just symbols of the real bond that existed between us. The deep wound that was left in my wife's heart by my folly was finally healing. Then God stepped in. In June, He provided some extra money and an amazing opportunity to purchase a ring 5x more valuable than the original at a ridiculously discounted price. What a happy day that was!

We vowed to be on the lookout for a ring for me, but it wasn't an urgent thing. My pastor suggested that I get one as soon as possible, because as a minister it was necessary to make it clear to women that I was spoken for. I didn't think too much of it because 1) nobody ever seemed to notice that I didn't have a ring, and 2) women aren't exactly chomping at the bit to get to me. Anyhow, Darcy and I were at Mervyn's the day before Thanksgiving. Mervyn's is going out of business and "Everything Must Go!" So, we decided to take a look at what kind of prices they had, and maybe, pick up a few deals before Black Friday. While she looked at jeans and kids clothes, I dropped by the jewelry counter to see if they had men's rings. They did. 70% off all men's jewelry is what the sign said! I couldn't believe it. So, I immediately began to browse the selection looking for my elusive size 13. They had 13s in Tungsten (the shiny silvery metal that I had come to like in my browsing the internet.) I quickly found my wife and asked her to come look with me. We picked one out that was clearly within what we could afford. She proposed to me in the car and of course I said "Yes!"

This may seem silly to a lot of people, but at that moment I felt that we had come full circle in our relationship. We were whole again. It took 8 years, but the destination was worth the journey. So, this Thanksgiving, I was thankful that God's timing is perfect, thankful for the gift of my wife, thankful that God is patient with me and my ignorance, and thankful that 2008 was the year that He proved to be the Lord of the Rings.

"Have you not read that he who created them from the beginning made them male and female, and said,'Therefore a man shall leave his father and his mother and hold fast to his wife, and the two shall become one flesh'? So they are no longer two but one flesh. What therefore God has joined together, let not man separate." Matt. 19:4-6

Where did I leave off?

2008-12-02T10:54:00.000-08:00

Let's see. . .Oh! Now I remember. I was "tagged" and I'm supposed to write 7 things that nobody (or at least very few)knows about me. This could be difficult, but for the sake of having a blog entry, here it goes.

1. I went to my first Laker game when I was 5 years old. I was immediately hooked, and have been a die-hard fan ever since. That was Magic Johnson's rookie year, but my favorite player was Norm Nixon.

2. I once ate a 20 piece bucket of Kentucky Fried Chicken (Original Recipe not Extra Crispy) because I was drunk and had the munchies. I brought the chicken and had every right to eat it, but it probably wasn't a good idea to throw all bones at the neighbors kitchen window.

3. When I was a little kid, I wanted to be a marine biologist when I grew up so I could work at Sea World. It lasted until I saw Jaws and Orca. I decided I like my limbs where they are.

4. I am very inept when it comes to tools. I always have been. I own tools, but I can't use them with any kind of proficiency. I can't hammer a nail straight. For that matter, I can't draw a straight line. . . with a ruler. I was nearly kicked out of wood shop and strangled to death by my shop teacher, because I screwed everything up. (Not an exaggeration!)

5. I had surgery on both of my feet when I was 15. I had 8 toes repaired. I was off my feet for 6 weeks and had to learn how to walk again before I could go back to school. I still have scarring which earned me the label "Frankenstein Feet". (Kids are so cruel!)

6. When I was 15, I was seriously considering getting my pilot's license. My uncle was taking me up in his Cessna about twice a week and teaching me to fly. He was saying I should get my pilot's license before my driver's license because taking a girl up in a plane was much cooler than just going for a ride in a car. That was before my fear of heights and realization of my mortality really took hold. You couldn't get me in one of those planes now.

7. I started writing a book about 10 years ago, as a way to keep my mind busy at work. The word processor I did all of the writing on broke down, but I still have the idea in my head. I may pick it up someday when I have more time and explore the possibility of writing a novel. It's kind of a Nicholas Sparks type of story that may be a little cliche by now, but who knows. . .God has done some pretty amazing things in my life already.

So, there are the 7 things about me. I don't remember the rest of the rules, so if you are one of the first 7 people to read this: TAG! You're it! Make up some rules of your own and don't tag me. Peace!

I wonder why. . .

2008-11-13T09:25:00.000-08:00

. . . the Proposition 8 protesters aren't protesting on the street corners in South Central Los Angeles. They are bullying the Mormons and pestering the evangelicals in the posh Orange County mega-churches. They are even boycotting an assortment of establishments that offered financial support to the "Yes on *" campaign. (Turnabout is fair play as I also decided to boycott those institutions that supported "No on 8") However, the exit polls show that it was the overwhelming vote for Prop. 8 by black voters (87%) that pushed this over the top. I'm sure it will be a frigid day in Hell when the protesters show up at First AME Church or the Crenshaw Christian Center and try to bust out some windows. This just leads me to believe they aren't serious about their protest. This is just an attempt to whine and complain enough to keep this issue in the media.
Here's an idea: MOVE! The people of California have made their statement on gay marriage loud and clear. TWICE!! I would suggest they get over it or move to Connecticut or Massachusetts where they don't have a problem supporting your perversion of marriage with legislation.

Post-Presidential Election Pet Peeve

2008-11-07T06:34:00.000-08:00

In honor of the 2008 Presidential election finally coming and going, I have a new pet peeve that has made it's way to blog-worthiness. I cannot stand to hear people say Bill Clinton was the first black president because he had "negro tendencies." I've heard this many times since Clinton disgraced the White House and it is very offensive to me. There are two glaring problems with the statement:

1. Bill Clinton is a man who's moral judgement is very suspect at best if you are a Liberal, and absolutely abominable if you are anybody else. To refer to his womanizing, laid-back, anything goes administration as "negro tendencies" is a slap in the face to black people in this nation. It's as if too say, "Chillin' in the Oval Office, pimpin' interns, and receiving all the oral sex he can is what I would expect from a black president." A white man who fits nicely into negative black stereotypes is still a white man, whether he is president or not.

2. The only people I ever hear refer to Clinton as the first black president are black people! Why?!? If slavery, segregation, and rampant racism in our country wasn't bad enough, we have been inoculated with disdain for our own people. Black people don't realize that statements like this are propagating the very stereotypes they are hopefully battling to dismiss. It's no different than using the "N" word. We were called it so long, we started believing that was our name. Black people, it's time to wake up and realize all the negative images of us that have been compiled over the years don't have to continue to define us now. We live in a country that has had (and in some areas, still has) it's share of problems with the black race. We have made tremendous strides in overcoming most of that. My fear is that we have now become our own worst enemy.

Now that we have a black president, I really hope I don't have to hear about Clinton again. I hope President Obama makes this country proud. I doubt it, but I will still hope. Why? That's for another blog. Peace!

Why I Haven't Been Blogging

2008-10-22T13:56:00.000-07:00

Because I'm really BUSY! I have papers to finish, sermons to write, and stress to manage without eating so much as to find the 38 lbs. I've lost. I will return to the world of blogging on November 1 after I'm done with school and have a better handle on things. Pray that I make it. Peace.

Open Letters to the NFL

2008-09-23T11:38:00.000-07:00

Dear Kansas City Chiefs,

It is obvious, after 3 weeks of football, that this is going to be a very long and painful season. As a loyal, displaced Chiefs fan (who is located smack dab in the middle Raider Nation and Chargers Central), I respectfully ask for a couple of favors.

Please call Daunte Culpepper and ask him to come play quarterback for the Chiefs. Remind him of the success that former Raiders have had in Kansas City (i.e. Marcus Allen, Chester McGlockton, and ...). Show his game film of Dwayne Bowe, who would be a prime candidate for his new favorite target. Play up the possibility of throwing to the soon-to-be all-time receiving yardage leader at tight end, Tony Gonzalez. (65 yards to go. Even Tyler Thigpen should be able to throw to Tony for 65 yards this season.)
Please play with some pride. It is difficult enough to watch you lose to the Raiders and the Falcons, but could you at least play hard in the second half. Especially on the defensive side of the ball. Offensive woes are due to a lack of talent and experience. Defensive woes are due to a lack of heart and energy. MAKE A TACKLE!!
Please do not lose to the Raiders again. Even if it is in Oakland. You better bring your A game that day. While your at it, put some points on the board against the "Swiss cheese" Broncos D this weekend. It could be a real confidence boost.

Thanks in advance!

Dear Chad Ocho Cinco,

Don't you wish you had spent more time in the off season working on improving your game and building a better rapport with your quarterback, than crying about being traded and changing your name. I bet you never thought you'd have more letters in your last name than receptions after 3 weeks of the season. It's probably a good thing you changed your name. Most people probably would have forgotten it by now, since we never see any highlights with you in them anymore. Oh well, at least you got your way.

Dear Al Davis,

Please don't ever die. It is clear that you are the Raider's biggest problem, but since you are in control that will never change. As long as you are around to call the shots the Raiders will remain horrible, and I'm ok with that. So, I want you to know that I'm praying for your health. Take your vitamins and listen to your doctors. Here's hoping you have a worse season than the Chiefs!

Dear Tyler Thigpen,

You suck! It's not your fault, though. Nobody ever thought you'd see any playing time. You're just supposed to be there to fill out the roster and participate in practice. Now you have been thrown to the lions, and you are dying a long slow death (about 16 weeks) if the Chiefs don't take my advice and make some phone calls really soon. Do us all a favor and fake an injury to force the management's hand.

That's enough venting for one day!

Weight Update

2008-09-08T09:23:00.000-07:00

Ok, so I skipped my weigh-in report last week. It was partially out of guilt and partially because I was really busy and tired. Officially, my weigh-in on Sept. 1 was 332. That's right. I gained 2 lbs. That's the first time since I began this journey that I've gained weight over a week's time. However, it was not a surprise. I took the weekend off of dieting and got a little out of control. The Saturday before was Darcy's birthday, so I decided that I would not worry about counting points, because I knew there would be pizza, buffalo wings, and birthday cake. The next day, we got some tickets to a V.I.P. suite at the NASCAR race here in town. We were in an A/C suite complete with all you can eat and drink. I definitely was not going to count points in the midst of that. So, in retrospect, +2 lbs. was not as bad as it could have been.

So, today I weighed in at 330. It took me a week to get rid of the 2 lbs. that showed up over a bad weekend. It amazes me how fast the weight can pile on, and how long it takes to lose it. I started a new schedule last week, which has me up early every morning and fairly busy throughout the day. I didn't journal what I was eating, but I was busy enough to where I wasn't steadily putting some food in my mouth all day long. This week my goal is to journal everything I eat everyday. I believe this is key to success in my journey. Next week I should be revisiting the 320's and saying farewell to the 330's forever. Praise the Lord!

Weigh In 8/25

2008-08-25T22:15:00.000-07:00

Today, I weighed in at 330 lbs. -2 for the week! I was really hoping to be in the 320s this week, but I think I know why I didn't make it. Friday, we got our air conditioner fixed. It had been broken for about 3 very hot weeks. Because it was broken, we haven't used the oven at all. My wife even had to turn down a birthday cake order because she didn't want to heat the house up any more.

Well, the Saturday after getting the A/C back, she couldn't take it anymore. Her itch to bake had to be scratched. My wife and daughter pulled out the cookbooks, gathered up ingredients, and went to town all day long. They made pancakes, bagels, rolls, bread, pasta, and cake all from scratch. There was no way I was going to restrain myself from enjoying the fruit of their efforts. It was well worth it. I am so blessed to have a wife that can bake and loves to do it. Plus, she is teaching my daughter everything she knows, so the legacy will live on for another generation!

So, my plan for this week is to keep up my activity level, stay on program, and not let a Saturday of splurging spoil my motivation to lose weight, get fit, and embrace a healthier lifestyle. Peace!

Weigh In

2008-08-18T21:36:00.000-07:00

Today, my official weigh-in day, I came in at 332 lbs. Thats a loss of 3 lbs. for the week, and a total loss of 32 lbs. Any loss is a good loss, but I'm ecstatic about this one. I'm feeling more motivated now than I have since I first started in May. My energy level is up. I'm exercising more, and sleeping better. I can do this!

I started listening to a podcast called "Inside Out Weight Loss." It's a little "new agey" at times, but the principals are very motivational. I realize that what I need is much more than a diet and some exercise. I need a total attitude adjustment! But, I'm hard-headed, so I rely completely on the Holy Spirit to keep me in line with the goal.

Thank you, Lord for illuminating a glaring issue in my life that I refused to recognize and adequately confront for so long. I trust in you to see me through this, and help me to realign my priorities and desires as I go through this journey that will hopefully result in an attitude overhaul. Amen.

Disciplinary Action

2008-08-13T12:58:00.000-07:00

This post is long overdue, but I think I'm ready now. About a year ago, my pastor asked me to start considering a date last fall for my ordination. This is something we've talked about for a year or so and is the next step in my progression in ministry. I began to pray about a date and the Holy Spirit really began to illuminate some discipline issues in my life that needed to be addressed before I could start thinking seriously about moving forward. I was lacking discipline in several aspects of life, and that would hinder me from being effective in full-time ministry. I struggled at first with this, but asked my pastor to put ordination on hold for me until I could work through and overcome some of these issues.

You may be asking, "What are the issues?" Well, I'm gonna tell you. The glaring issue at the time was my lack of discipline in my schooling. I was and still am working on my Bachelor's degree, and I should be done already. I didn't have the discipline to manage my time well and get all of my work done. So, I am still hanging around having to repeat classes that I didn't pass. In the past year I have done much better. My G.P.A. is on the rise. I have 3 more classes to pass before I have a degree. All 3 are repeats, but 2 are do-overs because I missed too much class due to pnuemonia last summer.

The second issue is finances. This has always been an issue for me. I incurred some debt only to have our household income slashed shortly after. This left me in the all to familiar position of not being able to pay all of my bills on time. This is not a good spot to be in for anyone, let alone a future pastor. I needed to change my attitude about money. I started saving, budgeting, and paying things on time. Not everything is peachy yet, but I feel like I am moving in the right direction as far as finances are concerned. My pay was cut earlier this year which set us back a little, but I know I just have to stay faithful with what I have. The saving already paid off, somewhat, as I was able to take the family on vacation this summer (something we are not very accustomed to).

The next big issue (and really the purpose of this post) was my weight. I've always been big and tall, but, as I get older, I'm only getting bigger. I've done some different things in the past that have yielded some short term results, but never got to the root of the problem. Discipline. In May of this year I weighed 364 lbs. That's the heaviest I've ever been. With my 34th birthday just around the corner, I realized that I wasn't going to have too many more at the rate I was going. I need to lose weight. Not just lose weight, but change my lifestyle so that the weight I lose stays lost. Why? Health. Longevity. Effectiveness. Most of all discipline. I have had a long-standing and well-publicized love affair with food. I want to end it. The reason I was getting so heavy is that I would answer the call of Mistress Food anytime she called out without restraint. Eating for me was a sport, a hobby, and a job rolled into one. In May, I came to the realization that my love affair with food, combined with my family history of diabetes and heart disease, would likely come to a fatal end if left unchecked. I'm in the middle of this struggle right now.

What did I do? On May 4, 2008, I made a decision to change. I went to the Lord and confessed my worship of food. I handed over my gluttonous desire to Him and prayed for guidance. I admitted that I felt absolutely helpless, and I asked for motivation, encouragement, and most of all accountability. The Lord led me to join Weight Watchers. I had some success a couple of years ago on this program.Their Flex points system allows me to eat foods that I enjoy, but keeps me accountable for everything I put in my mouth. I joined a fitness center so I could get the amount of exercise I need. I looked to others to keep me accountable and on track. I have a couple of good friends who have lost tremendous amounts of weight over the past year. Seeing their perseverance through the struggle has been a tremendous motivator and encouragement for me. I look to them often for encouragement and inspiration. I joined a message board that has a great community of like-minded people on the weight loss journey. I made myself accountable to them. Last, but not least, my amazing wife has been by my side, loving me every step of the way encouraging me and cheering me on as I go.

Where am I now? Well, as of August 11 I have lost 29 lbs. I feel better already. I have not been as active as I would like to be, but I attribute that to the heat of summer. My accountability remains in tact, although I did have a couple of hard weeks earlier in the summer. I have come to the realization that changing 34 years of lifestyle is not easy. I still have some times when I want to eat everything in sight, but I refuse. I have made a covenant with God to let Him be the Master of my life, not food. I truly believe that I will only get to the end of this journey with Him in control. I've got 75 lbs to go before I will reconsider another goal.

Why this post? Well, what better place to document my struggles and successes. This will still be a "mushpot", but a new ingredient of weight-loss journaling will be thrown in now and again. My hope is that in training myself to be more disciplined with food and my health, I will work out a framework of discipline for the other "issues" in my life where it is lacking. Ordination will come. God has a plan for my life that has not been fully revealed. Until then, I will train. I will struggle. I will overcome.

"But have nothing to do with worldly fables fit only for old women. On the other hand, discipline yourself for the purpose of godliness; for bodily discipline is only of little profit, but godliness is profitable for all things, since it holds promise for the present life and also for the lift to come. It is a trustworthy statement deserving full acceptance. For it is for this we labor and strive, because we have fixed our hope on the living God, who is the Savior of all men, especially of believers."-1 Timothy 4:7-10

Vacation Report

2008-08-08T12:14:00.001-07:00

So, we made it out of the house by 3:3o on Monday morning to start our journey north to Yuba City. It was the perfect time to get on the road, because it put us way out ahead of the Monday morning commute. I was really tired and very happy to get a 100+ mile break from driving and enough time to catch some zzz's. The drive was thankfully uneventful with just a couple of stops for potty and breakfast.

We made it to Yuba City by 11:00. It is absolutely beautiful up here. There is a small town atmosphere, but not too small. No horse drawn buggies or anything like that. The best part about it is...it's not Colton, or Fontana. It's just so nice to be on vacation and AWAY from home for a bit. We've been staying with our good friends the Hendricks. They are sooo gifted with hospitality. We have a blast everytime we come up here just like one big happy family.

So far, this week we have had a nice mix of activity and relaxation. We have done swimming and barbecue, bowling, laying around the house, battling at Wii Sports, tubing on the lake, and veg out watching movies. Yesterday was my oldest son's birthday. He's a teenager now! Greeeat. We went out for pizza then came home for cake and ice cream. The other kids (there are 6 total) decorated one of the rooms and threw a party for him. The adults were too "old" to participate. They had music, games, dancing, singing,...the works. Everyone had a blast.

The only negative this week has been the sunburn. On Tuesday, I swam for a short time and laid out in the sun for 10 minutes to dry. Bad idea. I didn't just get a little burnt. I started to get this bad rash. So, on Wednesday, when we went out on the lake for the day, I made sure that I put sunscreen on early and often. It wasn't good enough. I was really burnt...bad and so was my wife. The worst part about it was that this rash I had began to spread all over my chest, belly, arms, legs, and feet. And it was really itchy. I couldn't sleep at all that night. I was up at 2 in the morning getting all the info on the Brett Favre trade instead of sleeping. I was miserable. I took Benadryl, which helped me sleep a little bit. Then I got to sit in a bath tub with the some Aveeno oatmeal something or other and that help a bit. I did some research on the web and discovered that I, in fact, had an allergic reaction to the sun. Great! I have been taking the suggested OTC allergy medication now and actually slept very well last night with minimal itching.

Well we've got more planned for today, but it will likely be all indoors for me. Tomorrow we will pack up in the morning and head home in the afternoon. Vacation is so nice!

Weekend Review #3

2008-08-01T10:23:00.000-07:00

Sunday morning we were up and checked out of the motel by 8:00. We headed over to our friends hotel, where Darcy and the kids would hang out until they were ready to go home. I headed back down to Comic-Con with my buddies for one last hurrah!

When I got there, the first thing I noticed was that it was way more crowded than I expected it to be on a Sunday morning. I made my way over to the Torpedo Comics booth where they had tons of 99 cent comics, and trade paperbacks for 60% off. Needless to say, I filled in some holes in my collection. (Sidenote: Torpedo has 99 cent comics available on their website, so you don't have to wait for Comic-Con to get them.) I hit the first panel at 10:30. The Christian Comic Arts Society had their annual panel. The highlight was a sermon by Robert Luedke, the creator of Eye Witness. It was great to here about the advances that are being made in the area of Christian comics. There are some real quality projects going on out there. One that I was really interested in was Revelations: The Prophets by Jerrell Conner. I stopped by his booth immediately after the panel and picked up his book, which apparently began as a college animation project and has involved into one of them more popular Christian graphic novels out there today.

Later, I was back on the floor combing through the small press section. I like this section because these are the creators and artists that are often just getting their books off the ground, and have yet to get any mainstream noteriety. I was specifically looking for one in particular, and just when I thought he didn't make it for another year, I found Korby Marks. He is the creator/writer of Storm Bringers. I picked up issue #1 at last year's con, and I loved it. Sadly, it did not get picked up for mainstream distribution, so I couldn't get issue #2 until now. It is a very cool storyline so far featuring an all-black super team. There is a mixture of supernatural power and political thriller in this book that I believe could really take off if it ever gets a chance in the mainstream. Korby says the book is basically surviving paycheck to paycheck now, so, who knows when I'll be able to get #3. So, if you should happen to see it out there, give Storm Bringers a shot. I recommend it.

The final part of my Comic-Con experience was going to the Michael Turner Tribute panel. This was a "standing room only" event. Turner, one of the industry's more popular artist over the past 10 years, lost his battle with bone cancer just a month ago. A literal "Who's Who" of the comic industry sat in on this panel and shared their experiences working with Turner and told some very funny and touching stories of how he effected their lives and careers. Fans also had a chance to share thoughts and condolences with Turner's mother who was also on the panel. I am so glad I didn't miss this panel. It was well worth the hour I waited in line, and I hope they do it again next year. In my opinion, he was one of the best cover artist around. And his work will be missed.

That was it for my weekend. Another successful Comic-Con. I was so exhausted when I got home, I didn't even take inventory of all of my loot until a couple of days later. Part 2 of my summer vacation begins on Monday, and I can't wait.

Weekend Review #2

2008-07-29T23:35:00.000-07:00

Saturday began too early. I was up at 4. I couldn't sleep. I never can away from my own bed. Even with the exhaustion from the day before. After browsing through iTunes for a while, I managed to go back to bed and sleep for a couple more hours. And it's a good thing I did.

We got up and headed out to breakfast. We just stopped at a Jack in the Box to fill up before heading off to Sea World. This Jack in the Box was like a "next generation" Jack. Instead of standing at the counter and telling a person your order, you step up to a touch screen kiosk and tap out your order by selecting pictures of food while getting guidance from a mystery voice. Once again we were like hillbillies seeing the "picture box" for the first time. When finished, you just swipe your credit card or stick some cash in it, then wait for your number to be called. The wave of the future.

We got to Sea World, and I could quickly tell that this was not the Sea World I remember. I was last there about 10 years ago when my oldest 2 were very little. So, we didn't do a whole lot, just enough to entertain the kids. Before that, my parents used to take me to Sea World once a year or so. I don't remember it ever being this cool. They have rides now! They never had rides when I was going as a kid. They had that sky bucket on the wire thingy, but that's not really a ride. Now, they have Atlantis or something like that. It's a roller coaster/water ride. It was really pretty neat. I was about 3 or 4 inches too tall so my knees and back took quite a bit of punishment, but all in all it was a fun ride. My daughter was terrified, but I pretty much made her go on it. (Mean daddy!) But, when it looked like I might not fit, there was no way she was going to ride. I squeezed in the best I could so she could experience the ride. She gripped my are and buried her face in my chest the whole time, and she swore she would never ride it again. I told her that was fine because neither was I. My knees were beat up.

The other ride that was cool was the Wild Arctic ride. It is basically the same as Star Tours at Disneyland, but designed around an arctic expedition theme. It was a lot of fun, and when you exit the ride you are let out into an arctic expedition base where you can observer beluga whales and polar bears. It was pretty neat. We did all the usual Sea World stuff. We saw manatees, dolphins, sharks, penguins and puffins. There was a Cirque de something or other show that was pretty cool with some real amazing acrobats. We had plans to see some other shows, but then we got to the rapids ride. It was warm and sunny when we first got in line but by the time we were soaked by the rapids it was getting dark and a bit chilly. Fun ride. Just gotta remember to put that one earlier in the agenda next time. We were able to catch a couple of night time shows after dinner though. The Shamu Rocks show was really cool. The music and the pre show stuff was a good energy boost to get me through the rest of the evening. We finished off with Clyde & Seymour's show. At night they do a show that is a parody of all of the other Sea World shows and it was genuinely funny. We hit the souvenir shops and found our way to the car and back to the hotel. It was a very successful day. There were no incidents, no whining(well...maybe a little by my impatient son in the rapids line), no tears and everyone had a memorable time. My older two are going back on Friday with church camp, so I think they feel like they may have an upper hand somehow having scoped out the park just recently.

At the end of the day, I was glad that I took Saturday off from Comic-Con to spend the day with my family at Sea World. I did miss the Heroes panel, and getting Adam & Jamie's (from Mythbusters) autographs, but it was well worth it.

Weekend Review #1- Comic-Con Variant Edition

2008-07-28T23:17:00.000-07:00

It's not often that I get to go away for a whole weekend of fun AND get to take the whole family along. This past weekend was one of those rare occasions. Now that I am home and refreshed from the the exhausting "Go! Go! Go!" weekend, I would like to recap.

Friday morning my son, Isaac, and I hit the road early with some friends for San Diego, the home of Comic-Con International. We arrived about 45 minutes before the exhibit floor opened, which gave us plenty of time to check-in and pick up badges and freebies before the crowd started moving. This was not the Friday crowd I saw last year. This was a packed house Saturday kinda crowd. So, I knew it was going to be a long day of "bump & thump" through the exhibit hall.

One of the big hits from last year was this gigantic Smallville bags that the DC Comics booth was handing out. They were the perfect size for a full day worth of Comic-Con loot. This year as we approached the convention center we noticed some '08 versions of the gigantic bag. There were two: Wonder Woman & Watchmen. So, my friend Tom and I immediately headed over to the DC Comics booth to get in line for the freebies and a gigantic bag. The wait wasn't too bad. We got a plethora of DC pins, a Green Lantern ring, a Flash ring and some free comics. When we asked about the bags, the guy says, "That's not us. Those come from Warner Bros. (who is producing the upcoming Wonder Woman animated feature and the Watchmen movie coming out next summer.) We raced(as best we could surrounded by thousands of people) over to the WB booth to see that a sizable line already formed for the gigantic bags. There were plenty.

With gigantic loot sack in hand it was time to hit the aisles and find the bargain bins. I had been setting money for Comic-Con aside all year long and it was finally time to turn it loose. I picked up quite a few trade paperbacks that were 50% off. It takes some time to go through them, but there are some treasures buried deep. I wasn't really looking for toys so much, but when I came across this Savage Dragon figure at a price of 3/$10, I couldn't resist! Throw in a Shadowhawk & Shrek the Brave figure and I took 'em.

I knew ahead of time that Friday was going to be my only full day at the Con, so I didn't plan on going to many panels. I wanted to get through the entire exhibit hall, so I would know where to concentrate my attention on Sunday when I returned. That was quite a task. I did break to wait in line for the Trailer Park panel. This is a perennial fan favorite is where a bunch of movie trailers are shown back to back to give us an "first look" (theoretically) at what's coming out in the next year. I was a little disappointed, because half of the trailers they showed were ones that I've already seen on TV or in front of movies earlier this summer. There were a few new trailers that caught my eye. Taken stars Liam Neeson as a dad on a rampage when his daughter is kidnapped. Terminator Salvation stars this summer's Dark Knight as John Connor in the next installment of the Terminator franchise. And, the "belle of the ball" at this year's con was Watchmen. After the success of this summers comic book movies, this one (based on one of the best selling graphic novel of all-time) looks to lead the way in '09. The trailer is intense (and I love the song. I looking for it on itunes already.) and looks stunning. It made up for having to sit through trailers for Hamlet 2, Pineapple Express, and Stepbrothers.

I connected with Isaac, and we walked across the street to the Gaslamp district for lunch. After comparing notes, he decided he would hang with me for the rest of the day, since he already spent all of his funds for the day. He was very helpful as I worked my way through $1 comics, trying to fill in some holes in my collection. I didn't get a chance to go through the small press section (one of my faves), but I planned on hitting it up Sunday. We left around dinner time to meet our wives and the rest of our families for dinner. With all of the extra loot in hand, the walk back to the car always seems 10x farther than the morning walk to the con.

We met up for dinner at Mimi's Cafe and really had a blast. It was nice to be out as a whole family with friends that we enjoy. After dinner, we parted ways and headed over to Target because there was a slight problem. When I made my reservations at Motel 6 the only rooms they still had available were "smoking" rooms. I didn't really care because the location was great.(Only about 15 mins from the convention center.) BUT, I neglected to relay the "smoking" part to my wife. When she checked into the room earlier in the day, she was very disappointed and turned off by the smell of cigarettes. So, we went to target for some Plug-in air fresheners, Febreeze, and water & snacks. Side note: The Target was a 2-story building with an escalator. This was new to us. There was even an escalator for your cart! We must have sounded like some country bumpkins expressing our glee over a 2-story Target. Whether we needed anything from upstairs or not, we were riding that escalator. Anyway, we made it back to the Motel 6 and de-funkified the rooms, took hot showers and relaxed while going through the loot from the day. Day #1 of our weekend was a success. Tomorrow...Sea World.

Something Wicked This Way Came

2008-07-02T10:55:00.000-07:00

My family sent June out with a "BANG!" 4:47 a.m on Monday morning I heard the sound that still sends chills up my spine all these years later. My wife puking her guts out in the bathroom. It brought back memories of her first pregnancy when she seemed to puke about 30 times a day. I got up to help her in the bathroom and get her back to bed. She called in sick thinking she drank some "Naked" juice too fast the night before and it never settled right. I got out of bed a couple of hours later to take my oldest to summer school. My wife was in her chair writhing in abdominal pain. This was going to be a long day. I got home to find my youngest son was now looking very puny. That's never a good sign because he's a "puker" by trade. He has puked more in his 10 years than the other four of us put together in our entire lives. It didn't take him too long to start. That was two down. Luckily, when I made a trip to the store that morning, I picked up some extra soup, Powerade, crackers, etc. I was running back and forth playing nurse and trying to study for my final exam on Monday night. Not a successful endeavor. Because, around about 3 in the afternoon, my daughter began to feel pretty sick and just before it was time for me to leave to school, she puked too. I headed off to school, and was back in a couple of hours to find all three of them in my bed looking absolutely miserable. I quickly catered to their needs and grabbed my computer to take with me on my banishment to the living room. My youngest continued to puke most of the night. (I believe it was 10 times total.) I struggled to sleep on the couch, which is far to small for a man my size. We survived the night. I awoke to the sound of my wife preparing to leave for work and the my two sick kids turning on the TV. Apparently, everyone was feeling better, but me. I couldn't tell if I was getting sick, just sick of seeing and smelling people puke all day, or just tired from my 2 1/2 hours of sleep. I changed the linen on my bed and jumped in to catch up on some lost sleep. Thankfully, whatever it was that hit them, was satisfied with just three of the five of us. And thankfully, it only stayed for one day. I can't do days like that too often.

Rest In Peace

2008-06-26T20:24:00.000-07:00

I was on my way to school this afternoon and I heard a DJ interviewing Whitney Houston on the radio. After listening and laughing for about 10 minutes, I came to a stark realization. The Whitney Houston that I knew and loved all those years ago is dead. This "new" Whitney is a crackhead. I don't know how else to put it. With great lines like, "If they keep talkin' 'bout me like that, I'll have to take 'em out side and whoop their @$$! I'm a lady, but I will!", what else can I think. Bobby Brown married our beloved Whitney, then got her strung out on cocaine to the point where she looks used up, her voice sounds used up, and all the sweetness has turned into a bitter mix of intoxicated gibberish and bad feelings. Poor Whitney. Like she says, I don't know what she does, so I can't judge her. But I know what I see and what I hear, so, I'll judge that. I can only hope that somehow the Holy Spirit will grasp Whitney's heart in a dramatic life-changing way. It is so sad to see sin eat away at someone so beautiful and talented.

In remembrance of her greatness, here is a video of what I think was one of her all-time best performances. She is dearly missed.

2-For-1

2008-06-26T09:08:00.000-07:00

I didn't write about a pet peeve last week, so this week I've got two.

#1: Bad grammar at school functions. My daughter graduated from the sixth grade this week. We all packed into this very tiny auditorium in 100+ degree heat to see our kids get awards and a promotion certificate. It was really hot, so I was probably more than a little sensitive. One of the sixth grade teachers was explaining the next batch of awards, a group they call the "Most Awards." We're all familiar with these (Most Likely to Succeed, etc...). The teacher said that the first award was "The Most Funniest Award." Feeling snarky I said, "Followed by the Worst Use of Grammar Award." Apparently, my voice carried a little farther than I anticipated. There were little giggles all around. I realize this teacher was probably nervous about speaking in front of all those people, but that just bugs me. Anyway, on to #2.

#2 Size denial. Summer is in full swing, which means wearing a little less clothing is becoming the norm. Some people (usually women, but men do it too) are in the habit of wearing clothes that just don't fit! I am a really big man, and I know how hard it can be to find clothes that fit. But some people just have size denial. Maybe they have put on some weight in the past year or had some children. The clothes they wore last summer, don't fit anymore. They are bursting at the seams. Bellies, that shouldn't be out, are hanging out. My message to them is "You aren't that size anymore! Please buy, borrow, beg for some clothes that are a little bigger." Now, of course, like all my other pet peeves, I haven't found a way yet to express my sentiments in a loving manner, so I just cringe and keep my mouth shut. It is not my place to say anything to the ladies, anyway. The guys, I'm a little quicker to point it out to. They have thicker skin. I just pray that God will continue to work in me so that I will get over these petty grievances and learn how to just love people no matter what. I try to. That's enough griping for one day.

Weight Lifting

2008-06-23T09:42:00.000-07:00

What a weekend! Many know the story of my wedding rings, but for those who have never heard it, here's the short version. Six years ago, my wife and I were in a bad financial situation which involved electricity getting turned off and the refrigerator and cupboards being empty. Embarassment and stupidity prevented us from asking for help, again. We took the only thing of value we owned, our wedding rings, to a pawn shop. I was my stupid idea, and I promised I would get them back as soon as I had the money. It didn't happen that way. Before we knew it, the time had passed and we lost them for good. My wife was very, very upset. And rightfully so.

This has been a weight on my shoulders for some time. I had an opportunity to buy her a new ring a couple of years ago, but I allowed her to talk me out of it. She argued that we had to many needs and she would wait longer for a ring. I found out later that she, being enigmatic as women are, didn't really mean what she said. I should have ignored her and taken the initiative. Yet, another mistake on my part. The weight of my mistake was ever increasing, even though my wife's contentment was growing. Questions about our lack of rings continued and added to this weight almost daily. What could I do? Pray.

About a month ago, we were walking through the mall and came across a jewelry store that was going out of business. I always hate walking by jewelry stores, because they were like a flashing neon sign proclaiming what a loser I was. And I know they stirred my wife's emotions. It was always very painful for me to see her looking at her bare finger and back at the beautiful diamond in the case. Anyway, this store was going out of business and had everything 60% off! Wow! They had some beautiful rings. My wife's eyes lit up like Roman candles. But, even at 60% off, I couldn't afford anything at the time. I knew I would have some extra money coming soon, but would it be in my hands before it was too late. The guy at the store told me they would be gone by the end of June.

Friday, the check I had been waiting for came in. I didn't tell her it was coming, because she has a tendency to mentally spend it before it arrives and anything that deviates from that plan is a disappointment. I had ring on the brain. But first, she really needed a new phone. We were past due for an upgrade and hers was accidently marinated in sun screen at Magic Mountain. So we got new phones first. Because of prior plans, we could head back to the jewelry store until the next day. "Please Lord, let them still be open, and have a decent selection, please!" We arrived on Saturday morning and rushed to the jewelry store. It was still open. The discount was now 70% off and take another 30% off of that. It was very surreal. We looked at some different rings and I really felt like she was going to settle. Nothing she liked excited me. She finally picked a winner. When I saw it, I couldn't contain my excitement. I said, now that's a ring that says "My husband REALLY loves me." (We both realize that the measure of our love can never be expressed by things, but this was a landmark moment for us.) She was afraid we wouldn't be able to afford it and didn't want to get her hopes up. The original price was $2,430, but we got it for $549! Praise the LORD!

We had to pay another jewler to get it sized and get a warranty on it, but we got it! They told us it wouldn't be ready until Tuesday, but that was perfect. Tuesday is our 14th anniversary. The jewler called Sunday afternoon and it was ready. We could hardly contain our excitement. I picked it up and brought it home. While placing that ring on her finger, I felt the wait of the world lifting off my shoulders. The biggest mistake I've ever made in my entire life was almost totally erased right then and there. I say partially because I still don't have a ring. I didn't see any at the jewler that I liked. I will get one eventually, but for me the work is done.

Thank you LORD for your faithfulness which knows no bounds. Thank you for caring about my concerns. Your love is amazing. The way you work in my life is beyond wonder. Thank you for providing a way for my wife, your daughter, to feel safe, secure and whole in our marriage. We have devoted our union to you and may that ring forever stand as a symbol of that union. Amen.

Comic Relief #5

2008-06-18T15:36:00.000-07:00

Hey, it's Wednesday, which means I pull myself out of my "not blogging" rut because new comics hit the shelves today. Here are the books I'm looking forward to this week:

Checkmate #27

The Chimera storyline continues in one of my personal favorite's. Global espionage meets superpowered heroes!

DC/Wildstorm: Dreamwar #3 (of 6)

Continuation of what is turning out to be a good cross-over story. The Wildstorm gang doesn't get a lot of attention, but this may bring some of them back into the limelight.

Flash #241

A tidal wave of psychic terror sends Keystone's citizenry on a superpowered looting spree at the Flash Museum — and The Flash is forced to relive painful memories while defending it!

Justice League of America #22

An all-out action issue as Red Tornado is given another chance at life! The problem is that the dormant Amazo program within him wants the death of all League members!

Superman/Batman #49

It's the final chapter of the epic search for Kryptonite, as the Man of Steel must confront an old and dear friend who's harboring the "K" and threatening to set off "Kryptonite dirty bombs" around the world.

Casey Blue: Beyond Tomorrow #2 (of 6)

The exciting new series continues as Casey Blue finds juggling her old life with her new one can be a difficult experience…especially when she's being hunted for a murder she can't remember!

Ultimate Fantastic Four #55

Are you ready for Ultimate Salem’s Seven? Who are they, and what do they want with the Human Torch?

Ultimate X-Men #95

Enter Ultimate Alpha Flight. They want Northstar, but Colossus is not ready to let him go. I still have a hard time with "Ultimate" Colossus being gay, but this is still a good read.

Bonus Book:

Wolverine #66

"Old Man Logan" an 8-part story arc begins. Hyped as the most important Wolverine story of the 21st century. It might be worth a look.

P.S. If you haven't been reading "Secret Invasion", you better get on board. It's getting very interesting. If "Civil War" shook up the Marvel Universe, this story arc is putting it in a blender and hitting puree.

Have a great week and remember...Read MORE Comics! Peace.

Comic Relief #4

2008-06-11T11:08:00.000-07:00

Wednesday again already?! You know what that means. New comics hit the shelves today. Last week was a hefty week that didn't disappoint. Here are the books I'm looking forward to this week.

Green Lantern Corps #25

The epic battle against Mongul begins here, as the true origin of the Black Mercy is revealed! The Green Lantern Corps find itself pitted not only against Mongul to save Sodam and Arisia, but an entire planet made of Black Mercys that seem to be under the control of a quite possibly darker and more disturbing force.

Titans #3

Random hook-ups, internal fighting, envy…what's going on with Nightwing, Starfire, Flash, Beast Boy, Raven, Donna and Red Arrow? Can this team get their act together before their mysterious foes reveal themselves?

Trinity #2

The lead feature explores the unusual bond — and importance — of DC's top three characters, Superman, Batman and Wonder Woman, as a mysterious dream links them together and may prophesy important changes in their trinity! Kurt Busiek weekly!

Eternals #1

The Gods Walk the Earth! In ancient times, the Celestials, a race of cosmic giants, came to Earth and created a race of powerful immortal beings: The Eternals! For a time, primitive man worshiped them as gods, but eventually they disappeared. Now, they have returned! 3 different cool covers too!

Invincible #50

It’s all been building to this. After five long years, the best superhero comic book in the universe has reached its monumental FIFTIETH ISSUE! Invincible and Cecil Stedman face off and after this issue, nothing will ever be the same. Also in this issue, Science Dog returns in an all-new back-up story... and the ORIGIN OF CECIL STEDMAN!

That's what I'm picking up this week. I'm saving up for Comic-Con July 24-27! Have a great week and READ MORE COMICS!! Peace!

I Wish

2008-06-11T10:16:00.000-07:00

I wish:

life as a Laker fan wasn't so stressfull. I'm on a diet and these guys make me want to eat with all this stress.

Pau Gasol would find some heart. He really played like a boy amongst men last night. I've had questions about his intensity for a few weeks now. I know he is uncharted territory, but he's got to realize the gravity of the situation and man up!

the real Lamar Odom would show up. He is the key, but whoever that is out there in the #7 jersey is stinkin' up the joint.

I could hate this Celtic team as much as I hated those Larry Bird-led teams of the 80s. I have a lot of respect for Doc Rivers as a coach, I've been a KG and Ray Allen fan for years and so I don't hate those guys the way I hated Kevin McHale, Danny Ainge, and Dennis Johnson. Nevertheless, I will always hate the green and white of the Celtics, no matter who's wearing it.

I didn't have school on Thursday night. Now, I'm faced withe the decision of ditching or not. The problem with that is the possibility of a Game 7 next Thursday. I will definitely ditch for that. I don't want to miss 2 weeks in a row, though.

BOSTON SUCKS!!! GO LAKERS!!!

Comic Relief #3

2008-06-05T07:50:00.000-07:00

It's been awhile, but my return to blogging means a return to Comic Relief. I'm a day behind, but it shouldn't be too late to pick up these books at your local comic shop. I'm blessed to have three local comic shops, so I'll get them one way or another. Here are the books I'm looking forward to today.

Trinity #1
DC's new weekly series TRINITY explodes in an extra-sized debut issue featuring art by fan-favorite Mark Bagley (Ultimate Spider-Man) and Art Thibert with lead stories and dialogue by Kurt Busiek (SUPERMAN, ASTRO CITY)!

Justice Society of America #16
The beginning of the end of the ever-growing Justice Society starts with a new storyline! In the first chapter of "Gog," meet Earth's future savior — the one, true Gog — as he offers the Justice Society of America something many of the members can't refuse. But the controversial goodwill threatens to splinter the team, and it's up to Alan, Jay and Wildcat to hold it together.

Avengers/Invaders #2
The cross-time team-up of the year continues with the award winning team behind EARTH X, Justice and Project: Superpowers! With World War II's greatest heroes mysteriously transported to 2008, it takes the Mighty Avengers to bring them in before the world realizes that the Invaders are back…including the original Captain America.

Dark Tower: The Long Road Home #4
As Roland’s spirit floats through todash space it is irresistibly drawn to End-World and the court of the Crimson King himself! There the young gunslinger comes face-to-face with the very embodiment of evil in its own domain.

Secret Invasion #3
THE BLOCKBUSTER EVENT continues. Its Avenger versus Avenger. Hero versus hero! Norman Osborn versus Captain Marvel?? The Initiative versus an army of Super-Skrulls? Is Tony Stark really a- -? And who's that guy with an eye patch coming to save the day??

Ultimate Origins #1
This is it! The story that finally reveals the conspiracies behind the entire Ultimate Universe! When they first met, Bruce Banner mysteriously warned Spider-Man that "Everything is connected." Now it's time to discover the jaw-dropping secrets that men have fought and died to protect. From the dark days of World War II to the frightening present, journey through history to learn what's really behind the Super Soldier and Weapon X programs–and how heroes such as Captain America, Nick Fury and Wolverine have more in common than codenames and costumes.

Bonus Book!

Marvel Spotlight: Secret Invasion #1
It normally bugs me when a major story arc bleeds over into every book in the Marvel Universe. I usually pass over all of the little books that spin out of or support that story arc, but Secret Invasion just has soooo much going on. The mystery and suspense is killing me, so I will probably break down and grab this issue as well.

That's Comic Relief for this week. With gas prices up, you know what to do: Drive less and read more comics!!! Peace.

I'm Back...and Peeved!

2008-06-02T22:52:00.000-07:00

So...this officially ends my month-long hiatus from blogging. (Presumably in honor of the month-long celebration of my birthday...but not really.) It's late and I'm brain dead from a mid-term exam tonight that required a long day of studying, so, I will not be doing any catching up on where life has taken me over the past month until tomorrow. I will, however, address a pet-peeve that came to my attention this week. (I figure I can vent on pet peeves here [maybe one a week] and kill two birds with one stone.)

This week's pet peeve is: people who go out in public without brushing their teeth!! I should clarify. I'm talking about ADULTS, who I see in public, who have so much plaque and tartar built up in there mouth that it looks like that have just rubbed a stick of butter across their teeth. I realize that I am probably a little more sensitive to this issue than most people because my wife is a dental assistant and she has programmed me to be aware of oral hygeine issues. I point out that adults offend me with this because I realize that kids are kids and getting them to brush their teeth on a regular basis is a full-time chore. But, I see adults who have smiles that scream, "I haven't brushed in a couple of weeks and I don't care!" And I'm not talking about poor, unfortunate, homeless people. These are people that have homes, families, good jobs, and benefits. They go to church, pay their taxes, hang out with friends, the whole shbang! Yet, when they, presumably, look in the mirror before leaving the house, they fail to see the crud that is making itself at home between their teeth and even obscured one's view of their gums. I would like to point this out most times and help somebody out, (If it were me, I'd want to know.) but I haven't figured out how to point it out without sounding mean, accusatory, and uncaring. So, I keep my mouth shut and scream with that little voice in my head that so badly wants to get out into the open. I've thought about discreetly leaving toothbrushes and floss in these people's paths, but "you can lead a horse to water...yada, yada, yada."

Well, that's enough ranting for one night. Here's hoping that oral hygeine awareness among adults improves and I learn to get over things like this that seem so petty when I write them out. I know I need to love people, anyway. I do my best. Hey! I keep my mouth shut when I don't have anything nice to say. (Most of the time.) That's a start.

And the loser is...

2008-04-24T21:40:00.000-07:00

Wesley Snipes!! What the hell was he thinking? Wesley didn't file his taxes from 1999-2007! Even the guys who makes sure the fries don't burn at McDonald's knows he has to file a tax return. Is there no agent, advisor, personal assistant, best friend, next door neighbor,...somebody who could talk some sense into this man over the last 8 years? Didn't he ever see The Untouchables? Everyone knows the only way they could convict notorious mobster Al Capone was to get him on tax evasion! Now it looks like Wesley, too, will be spending some time in prison for his stupidity. There's no excuse. My 11-year old daughter knows when tax time is.

This is just disappointing. I have followed Wesley Snipes most of his career. I remember when he was in Michael Jackson's "Bad" video. I cheered for him as he hooped it up in White Men Can't Jump and slaughtered vampires in the Blade Trilogy. But, the time has come for Wesley to get this blog's very first "Dummy" Award for outstanding stupidity in the areas of common sense and finances. Congratulations, Wesley. Loser!

Comic Relief #2

2008-04-23T22:39:00.000-07:00

It's Wednesday again and that means...new comics!! I didn't get to the shop today, but here's what I'm looking forward to when I get there.

Batman #675
Ra's al Ghul successfully resurrected. The impostor Batmen running rampant through Gotham City. The cold, harsh reality of heart-breaking death. Batman has confronted all of these obstacles as the stalwart hero he is…but will the Bat be ready for the devastating crossroads ahead?

Justice League of America #20
The Flash has not been answering his JLA signal, so now he has to answer to Wonder Woman! But first they have to survive an attack by the Queen Bee and her new drones from the H.I.V.E. Featuring art by one of my faves Ethan Van Sciver.

Superman/Batman #47
Further adventures of the World's Finest!

Wildstorm: Armageddon (TPB)
Collecting the 6-issue ARMAGEDDON event that rocked the WildStorm Universe and included Midnighter, Tranquility, Stormwatch: PHD, Gen13, Wetworks and Wildcats! Six heroes are taken to a post-apocalyptic vision of the WildStorm Universe — can they avert the coming Armageddon?

Mighty Avengers #12
Secret Invasion tie-in answers the question of Nick Fury's whereabouts. Plus, another major Skrull reveal in this issue.

Thor #8
J. Michael Straczynski and the god of thunder. 'Nuff said!

Ultimate Fantastic Four #53
Johnny and Sue are on the side of Ultimate Thanos and the Ultimate Cosmic Cube. Reed is AWOL, so it's clobberin' time as Ben takes matters into his own hands.

Ultimate Spider-Man #121
Omega Red returns in this action-packed issue.

Uncanny X-Men #497
"Divided We Stand" continues as Cyclops and Emma Frost try to save Archangel.

That's a lot of books this week, but hey, nobody said a comic book addiction was cheap! Look for some reviews later this week. And remember...read more comics! Peace!

Happy Earth Day!

2008-04-22T17:56:00.000-07:00

Today is Earth Day. Sounds a lot like birthday, but it isn't a celebration of the planet's birth. It's more of a day of awareness to promote the planet's survival. I'm all for the survival of the planet I live on, but I think some people take this "Earth-love" too far. So, in an effort to promote worship of the Creator rather than the creation, let's take a look at how the planet came to be.

Read about Earth's birthday here. (I'm lazy today and didn't feel like typing it all out.) And while we're at it, Earth's last day, and new beginning.

Now that we know how it began and how it ends, we can concentrate on giving praise to the One who is in control of it all. This doesn't mean that you should stop recycling or anything like that. God has called us to be good stewards of this planet, but let's not forget that ultimately the fate of the world is in His very capable hands. Happy Earth Day!

"For since the creation of the world His invisible atrributes, His eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly seen, being understood through what has been made, so that they are without excuse."- Romans 1:20

Child's Play

2008-04-21T23:26:00.000-07:00

My kids love to play outside. I'm lucky that way, I guess. I know that nowadays the trend is to sit inside and get all the thumb exercise you can on the Playstation or XBox. But my kids still love to ride bikes and scooters. They are really falling in love with basketball (much to my delight). I get out there and play with them whenever I can, but I really love to sit back and watch them play. It brings back all the great memories I had of when I used to play outside with my friends everyday. I remember playing right up until the moment just before the street lights came on. (Getting caught outside when the street lights were on would get me a whoopin'.) I watch them take joy in their accomplishments and lash out in frustration at the challenges of the activity. All of it brings me unspeakable pleasure. These are the children that God has entrusted to my care. What a remarkable responsibility that is! And, because I love them so much, I find joy in watching them enjoy something so simple as child's play.

I had the privilege of going on a Men's Retreat with some brothers from my church this weekend. We had a wonderful time. The food was great. The speaker was inspiring. The fellowship was relaxing. And the bed's were too small, but that's to be expected on these retreats. On Saturday afternoon, we played football. It has been years since I have played an organized, competetive football game. It was such a blast, even though my team lost. Young men, old men and in-between men all took the field and competed with spirit. It was so cool. We all came away with trememdously sore and weary bodies. There were plenty of "war wounds" to show the folks back home, but not one complaint about our couple of hours of "pigskin paradise". Plus, the sore bodies, made it much easier to sleep in the tiny beds that night.

In a time of reflection afterwards, I began to wonder if God found the same pleasure in watching in sons get together and play football on that field, that I find when watching my kids. I like to believe that our competition, with the right heart and the right motive, was fulfilling our purpose of pleasing Him at that moment. Praise God for giving his children an opportunity to play together and fellowship in that way! It was a blessing for all of us, and I pray that it was a blessing to our Heavenly Father, too.

"The Spirit Himself testifies with our spirit that we are children of God,"- Romans 8:16

Cause of Death: Broken Heart

2008-04-17T16:31:00.000-07:00

I came across this very sad story in the paper yesterday. A 35-year old mother of three died of heart failure four years after her husband was brutally murdered. My heart hurts for that poor woman who was so torn apart after the death of her husband. And my heart goes out to those three children, who now have to continue on in life without their parents. However, I do know that they have a Heavenly Father, a Sovereign God, who is in control of the situation. He is glorified in the good and the bad.

I can never say how I would respond and carry on in life if I were to lose my wife. Initially, I would be crushed, but I hope Jesus' instructions in Matthew 11:28-30 would have a very real impact in my life at that time especially.

"Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For My yoke is easy and My burden is light."-Mt. 11:28-30

Say a prayer for this poor family that has been devastated by tragedy. In addition, take time to enjoy your loved ones and let them know what they mean to you, because tomorrow is not promised and each breath is a gift.

Comic Relief

2008-04-16T09:19:00.000-07:00

Well, it's Wednesday! That means new comics hit the shelves of your local comic shop today. Here are the books that I'm looking forward to this week (in no particular order):

DC/Wildstorm: Dreamwar #1 (of 6)
In this landmark miniseries by writer Keith Giffen (52), Lee Garbett and Trevor Scott (MIDNIGHTER), the Earth is being torn apart. So when DC Universe heroes begin appearing in the WildStorm Universe, it seems at first they might be the answer to all the problems. Until it becomes clear that they might just be the reason for all the problems. And the Justice League of America doesn't know how they got here...or how to get back!

Superman #675 A three-way battle between Superman, Paragon and the forces of Daxam! The Earth-shattering threat of the all-new Galactic Golem! This one's got it all, including a painted cover by new series cover artist Alex Ross and a variant by Renato Guedes.

Amazing Spider-Man #557 Spidey caught in the middle of two ancient threats that are conspiring to take him and the city itself down. Plus, Carlie trapped at the Police Station with someone after her blood!

Captain America #37 With a new Cap now established, things go from bad to worse as the Red Skull makes an unexpected move for the very soul of America!

X-Men: Divided We Stand Book 1 #1 In the wake of Messiah CompleX, there are no X-Men. But where does that leave the mutants that WERE X-Men? Some of the industry’s hottest creators bring you stories of your favorite mutants.

Enjoy!

Thanks Jackie

2008-04-15T22:35:00.000-07:00

Today marks the 61st anniversary of Jackie Robinson's debut with the Brooklyn Dodgers making him the first black player in Major League Baseball history. This was by no means an easy endeavor. Jackie overcame tremendous prejudice with hard work, God-given skill, and an enduring spirit. He was named Rookie of the Year in 1947 and led the Dodgers to a succesful season. However, his impact off the field was far greater.

Jackie Robinson opened a door and took the first steps down a path that would lead to a revolutionary movement in the 1960s. The civil rights leaders who followed were now doubt inspired by his accomplishments. Today, I saw players, of all races, wearing Jackies #42 in his honor. They have all been "set free" from oppressive thought patterns and allowed to freely play the game they love. Fans of all races can enjoy a game side-by-side. I'm not a professional athlete, but I can approach my profession with good character, confidence, and class because strong black men like Jackie Robinson navigated their way through this world first. Thanks, Jackie.

"Teach me Your way, O LORD, and lead me in a level path because of my foes. Do not deliver me over to the desire of my adversaries, for false witnesses have risen against me, and such as breathe out violence. I would have despaired unless I had believed that I would see the goodness of the LORD; be strong and let your heart take courage; yes, wait for the LORD." Ps. 27:11-14

Back on the Blog

2008-04-15T01:59:00.001-07:00

Tonight in my Proverbs class, our teacher, Dr. Jeff Mooney, suggested that we should get in the habit of writing. He has a blog that he post entries on daily and recommends it as a form of writing "exercise". I sat in class and thought I have a blog. It has been collecting dust since December, but I have one.

If I'm going to be serious about the ministry God has called me to, I need to take the business of writing seriously. So, I have no idea what I'll write about. (Most of my thoughts come across as utter nonsense anyway.) However, I will do my best to write something daily. If anyone out there is actually reading this, bear with me...and check out Dr. Jeff Mooney's blog at socaltheologica.com . I think you will enjoy it. Until next time, Peace!

Ice Cream Experiment

2007-12-04T22:21:00.000-08:00

Some studies have concluded that ice cream tastes better when it is eaten with a fork. When you use a fork instead of a spoon, there is less metal in your mouth to manipulate your taste buds. I, however, am more than skeptical about this conclusion and will devote as much time as possible to performing my own extensive study. It's a tough job, but somebody's gotta do it.

Blogging Contagious?

2007-12-04T09:13:00.000-08:00

I think....maybe....yeah!