Wednesday, December 31, 2008

Lessons from an Ice Storm


Friday morning I left Wal Mart (see previous post) and attempted to head for my mom’s with her groceries. That’s when the “fun” began. A little backdrop here. I left my house at approx. 6:50 AM. The last thing I heard on the news was that it was pretty bad out there and anyone who needed to go out should be extremely careful. OK, duely noted, and away I went. In the time I spent at Wal Mart, and waiting to get into Wal Mart (see previous post) a state of emergency was called, and with good reason. In fact the entire Indiana Toll Road was closed for about 3 hours.
As I approached the “hill” or “pit” on old 20 (locals know what I am talking about.) I was flagged down and told to not go that way as about 20 car had piled up at the bottom due to the ice. “Ok, no problem I’ll just swing through the neighborhood, back past Wal Mart and go around on level terrain.” I forgot the hill (not near as big as the one on 20, but big enough) at the back of the neighbor hood. As I crested the hill in question I saw two cars stuck at the bottom. I couldn’t stop and wound up near the bottom of the hill. After several attempts at both ends of the hill, and about a half hour, I realized I wasn’t going anywhere until some of that ice melted.
Man that burned me up. I had about 75 5htings that I needed to get done before going to our family Christmas weekend and sitting someplace not being able to go was NOT one of them. Fortunately I got stuck almost right in front of some friends’ home. They took pity on me and took me in. God used those two hours to sow me/ remind me a few things:

1. All my plans really don’t mean much. I am subject to circumstances I cannot control
2. God kept me from harm and property damage in a pretty cruddy weather situation
3. Relationships are WAY more important than “to dos”
4. I don’t prioritize very well
5. God will use bad situations to create positive outcomes (we just have to look)

These are the things that I need to resolve to look at in 2009… Am I where God wants me, doing what He wants me to do, and is my life pointing others His way. The rest is just details.

Tuesday, December 30, 2008

Customer Service ???? at Wal Mart

So the van is WAY overdue for an oil change… I decide that “sliding” over to WalMart the morning after Christmas is the way to go. The auto service department is scheduled/ advertised to open at 7 AM. The weather is pretty crummy (see the upcoming post on that one) but I make it with no problem. I arrive at 7:05 an find that the sliding glass door entryway of the department is not open. I look inside to see two service reps getting the cash register ready and they signal “just a minute” to me. I stand and wait for several minutes I begin to deal with a bit of personal frustration.
After several phone calls and one of the service guys walking to the front of the store, a manager arrives and unlocks the door at 7:23… yep almost 20 minutes standing outside. This just after seeing a report on the news before leaving the house abot how the stores are looking to drum up any business they can. The very worst part was that the manager, who could see my impatience and frustration I a sure, quickly turned and left the area before the door was even opened. GRRRRRRR
Then after the wait I step to the counter to order up my oil change and find out that the price of the oil change (basic/ value package) I got just a few months back has now increased in price approx. 80%. Double GRRRRRRRRRR. At the old price it was about $3 more than I could do ti myself, well worth it. Looks like I’ll be going back to changing my own oil. Out of options for the weekend, I bit the bullet and payed the price. Other than getting my mother’s grociries, this trip to WalMart was as frustration as they come.
In a world where companies are supposedly vying for my loyalty and dollars is it too much to ask that at the very least the doors get opened when advertised. And when a mistake is made, that someone at least say, “we’re sorry”? I know that this was just the beginning of a few things that God was trying to teach me on this particular December 26th … but man it was maddening.

Link Dump 12/29/08 -- Last Edition of '08

Free Ebook: Thriving on Less - Simplifying in a Tough Economy

Looking To Invest Right Now? 5 Basic Investing Tips For Any Market

Heal Farm sells the 12 bird roast for £665

British atheist declares, "Africa needs God."

Your End-of-Year Personal Inventory: 6 Signs You May Need an Accountability Partner

What Lessons Can We Learn from A Charlie Brown Christmas?

Karl Rove Blogs About Bush’s Reading Habits

Best. Fans. EVER!!


Mainstream Media Seems Indifferent To Persecution Of Christians

Let David Allen Test Your GTD IQ [GTD]

Everything You Need to Know How to Do in Windows [Windows]

Playing Board Games Boosts Important Skills [Mind Hacks]


How to Use Your New Digital Camera [Digital Photography]

REPORT INSIDE THE GAZA WAR: IDF says worst is yet to come

Rod Parsley Ruins Christmas

Acai Berry Diet: Miracle or Hype?

Mr. Obama Goes to Church--Rarely

Kurt Warner

Love’s Pure Light

Reasons To Have Hope You’ll Change

Read through the Bible in a year with new Bible Gateway reading plans!

A NEW YEAR'S PRAYER FOR 2009

Ten for the History Books from 2008




Saturday, December 27, 2008

Something to Ponder ... Andy Stanley

"In “church world” we can go for generations with no momentum, and no concern over the lack of momentum, as long as we can pay the bills. As long as we can pay the bills, a lack of momentum is not a heartbreak!Momentum is very disruptive in traditional churches. It breaks the systems. There will emerge an invisible dynamic that will emerge to press down the momentum….because momentum disturbs.If you have momentum, and you don’t know why you do, you are one stupid decision away from killing it."

-Andy Stanley

Friday, December 26, 2008

Gift Ideas for Clueless Husbands,,,

My guess is that if any of you fellas out there used these ideas yesterday; you'll be on your way to the stores today to find a suitable replacement.

Something to Ponder ... Robert Frost







By working faithfully eight hours a day, you may eventually get to be a boss and work twelve hours a day.

—Robert Frost

John Piper: Do You Connect to God by Santa or Jesus?

Thursday, December 25, 2008

Something to Ponder... Charles Spurgeon


Now a happy Christmas to you all; and it will be a happy Christmas if you have God with you. I shall say nothing to day against festivities on this great birthday of Christ. We will to-morrow think of Christ's birthday; we shall be obliged to do it, I am sure, however sturdily we may hold to our rough Puritanism. And so, 'let us keep the feast, not with old leaven, neither with the leaven of malice and wickedness; but with the unleavend bread of sincerity and truth.' Do not feast as if you wished to keep the festival of Bacchus; do not live to-morrow as if you adored some heathen divinity. Feast, Christians, feast; you have a right to feast. Go to the house of feasting to-morrow, celebrate your Saviour's birth; do not be ashamed to be glad; you have a right to be happy. Solomon says, "Go thy way, eat thy bread with joy, and drink thy wine with a merry heart; for God now accepteth thy works. Let thy garments be always white;
and let thy head lack no ointment."
"Religion never was designedTo make your pleasures less." Recollect that your Master ate butter and honey. Go your way, rejoice tomorrow, but in your feasting, think of the Man in Bethlehem; let him have a place in your hearts, give him the glory, think of the virgin who conceived him, but think most of all of the Man born, the Child given. I finish by again saying,
---"A HAPPY CHRISTMAS TO YOU ALL"



-- Charles Spurgeon

Stille Nacht -- The Legend of Silent Night

Santa Clausen delivers



In a script that could have been written as a fairy tale Jimmy Clausen led the Irish to victory in the 2008 Hawaii Bowl. 22-26 passing (I believe 3 were dropped), 401 yds, 5 TD including 177 yds and 3 TD to Golden Tate. Adding up to a 49-21 Christmas Eve massacre of a Hawaii team that never appeared to get off the bus.
This is the ending to the season that needed to happen. Closure for the seniors, validation that a healthy offense can be dangerous, plenty of building blocks for the upcoming year, most important: the over hyped bowl losing streak is now dead. We don't have to talk about the 1994 Cotton Bowl any more.
Were there some issues? sure. While I like the confidence with which we performed, I found many instances of what appeared pure arrogance distasteful. There is never a reason to act that way, especially when your team lost to Syracuse about a month ago. The offensive line still did not appear to be able to " go downhill" and run at will. We need to be able to gain consistent yards on the ground to become an elite team again. BCS caliber defenses will not allow to you to throw deep every time its 3rd and 9.
We need to take this victory, cherish it for what it is, and look forward to what appears to be a potentially bright 2009 season. GO IRISH!

Tuesday, December 23, 2008

Something to Ponder ... Dr. Dexter McKenzie


Great lessons can be learned from anyone regardless of level of education or socioeconomic status. A good leader should have an open heart and an open mind.


-- Dr. Dexter McKenzie

Jeff Garcia meet Quentin Jammer

Monday, December 22, 2008

Link Dump -- 12/22/08

2 questions to help us discover what kind of Christmas gift givers we are?

Many Paths to Heaven?

Lessons in Manliness from It’s a Wonderful Life

Bush and Public Opinion

Rick Warren to Give Invocation at Obama Inauguration

5 Lessons I Did Not Learn in Seminary

4 Reasons to Start Your Own Blog

Not Every Sunday Service is Amazing

Rich Alabama Boosters FTW! [College Football]

Gallup: Economic Hard Times Isn't Increasing Church Attendance

Santa Gets Parking Ticket From 'Grinch' Traffic Cop

Unusual Suspect: Texas Boy, 4, Breaks Into Toy Store

While We’re Talking About Interpreting the Bible

A Christmas Devotion

Credit Card Rule Changes

How to Reuse Nine Types of Leftovers [Food]

Amusing Ourselves to Death

Florida Church Set To Tell Congregation of Woman’s Adultery on January 4

My Top Ten Top Ten Lists

Tax Breaks That Homeowners Should Not Miss This Year.

Inexpensive Ways To Stay Warm This Winter.

Anti-Christian Pogrom Worse than Mumbai Attack

Another Muslim Vision Leads to Christ Jesus

Luke 1:26-38 - did Mary have a choice?

"All" Always Means ALL. Right?

Few GA High Schools Offer Approved Bible Classes

Oh, the Humanity! Under 30 Tickets Sold to 2008 Humanitarian Bowl

2008 Gift Giving Guide: Digital giving

Self-Embedding Latest Issue for Teens

The Art of Learning

the worst christmas nativities

Something to Ponder ... Stevem Wright


"What's another word for Thesaurus?"


-- Steven Wright

R.I.P. RCA Dome

Ouch of the Day.... not for the squemish

Sunday, December 21, 2008

A Lack of Planning : Balloon Edition

Something to Ponder ... Sir Francis Bacon


“If money be not thy servant, it will be thy master. The covetous man cannot so properly be said to possess wealth, as that may be said to possess him.”

- Sir Francis Bacon

Happy Birthday to my wife.


Just wanted to take a minute and send a Happy Birthday to my wife. Hope you have a great day. I LOVE YOU.
also, for the next 6 months I can refer to you as "old" :)

Saturday, December 20, 2008

Dogs and Holiday Handouts...

Something to Ponder ... Martin Luther kIng, Jr.


"All labor that uplifts humanity has dignity and importance and should be undertaken with painstaking excellence."
- Martin Luther King Jr.

Thursday, December 18, 2008

A full day of airline traffic in under 2 minutes

HT to: Bag of Nothing

Something to Ponder ... Andy Stanley


"What do you do when you realize you're the most powerful person in the room? Find a way to leverage that power for the sake of the other people in the room!"


-- Andy Stanley

How Its Made : Microwave Burritos

Wednesday, December 17, 2008

How It's Made : Paintballs

Something to Ponder ... Rogers Hornsby





People ask me what I do in winter when there's no baseball. I'll tell you what I do. I stare out the window and wait for spring.

-- Rogers Hornsby

How It's Made : Ice Cream Sandwiches

Made Me Laugh ... Cell Phone Usage



HT to: Letters from Kamp Krusty

Colbert and Toby Keith on the War on Christmas

Monday, December 15, 2008

Former Korn Guitarist Brian Welsh Testimony




Stories like these are why Jesus came on Christmas and are made possible by Easter.

Something to ponder... Winston Churchill


We make a living by what we get, but we make a life by what we give.
-Winston Churchill

How It's Made : Chewing Gum

Link Dump - 12/15/08

Bacon and Cheese Roll (Lipitor served on the side)


THE GOOD NEWS IN BAD NEWS TIMES

Bah! Humbug!

Favorite Books of 2008

Top Religion Stories of 2008

Finally, An Athletic Director Who’s Got a Brain

How To Avoid That Dreaded Holiday Weight Gain

Volition: a Terrific 15-minute Film

10 Useful Tasks for Slow Times

Stop. Look. Worship in Awe.

This Doesn't Usually Happen After an Outdoor Gig

Five Best Sites for Finding Deals Online [Hive Five]

KickYouTubes Lets You Download Videos Without Extra Software or Hassle [Video]

The Top Five Cheapest--But Least Healthy--Fast Food Choices [Food]

Most Popular How-To Features of 2008 [Best Of 2008]

Google's 2008 Year-End Zeitgeist Rounds Up Your Searches [Google]

What if the Church were Run Like an Airline?

Palestinian Christians Persecution Is Going Unnoticed

Van Halen Tour Rider: Absolutely No Brown M&Ms

Oscar Mayer Taking Applications for Wienermobile Drivers Till End of January

Roles, Goals, Scheduling

Mark 1 in context

Will NASCAR’s Problems Hurt Fenway Sports Group?

things that didn’t exist when we were in middle school


Sunday, December 14, 2008

Something to ponder ... Roy Hession



If I want my own way rather than God's, it is quite obvious that I shall want my own way rather than the other man's. A man does not assert his independence of God to surrender it to a fellow man, if he can help it.
-Roy Hession

How It's Made : Hot Dogs

Saturday, December 13, 2008

Something to ponder ... Woodrow Wilson


"I would rather fail in a cause that will ultimately succeed than succeed in a cause that will ultimately fail."


- Woodrow Wilson.

40 Inspirational speeches in 2 minutes

I've seen this several places around the blogosphere. Good stuff

Tuesday, December 9, 2008

Something to Ponder ... Woody Allen


"Organized crime in America takes in over forty billion dollars a year and spends very little on office supplies."


-- Woody Allen

It's OK to laugh: Santa does it too.

Link Dump - 12/9/08

Wise Bread Giveaway: Free Acer Ultra Mini PC Courtesy of Staples

Getting by without a job, part 4--get free stuff


Keeping holiday decorations uncluttered

10 Reasons I Don’t Like Most Christians

Helpful Books on Living in Light of the Cross

Beef Jerky Drink in a can?

Cokie Roberts on Sarah Palin's future

Study: Lying, Cheating and Stealing Up Among Teens

Christmas In Germany In 1940

Book Review: The Politically Incorrect Guide to Darwinism and Intelligent Design

Cook the Book: 14 Ways with Deviled Eggs

Converts from Islam to Christ Beaten, Cut and Face Charges

Helping You to Target Your Prayers for the Persecuted in India

How Little Changes Can Add Up To Thousands Of Saved Dollars.

5 Golden Rules To Follow During The Holiday Season.

The Savvy Shopper's Guide to This Year's Online Deal Finders [Online Shopping]

Surprisingly Salty Foods [Food]

Bakar Batu

NEW RUMORS OF WAR IN THE EPICENTER AND THREATS AGAINST THE U.S.

Field Trips Nixed After Students See Classmate's Autopsy

No More Smiles on Indiana Driver's Licenses

DIY: 6 Simple Steps To Start Podcasting

Praying for an Auto Bailout

Newsweek's Religious Case for Gay Marriage

Reading multiple Bibles in parallel


Turning the Bible on its Head -- Newsweek Goes for Gay Marriage

Honestly, Megaburgers Bore Me, But Here Are Some Crazy Photos Anyway

Christmas in Honolulu ... ND Goes Bowling



After all was said and done the Irish have accepted a bid to play in the Hawaii Bowl on Christmas Eve. The opponent : The University of Hawaii.
This bowl offered the highest level opponent of the possibilities and after all, could it be so bad to spend Christmas in paradise. The team will get a week less practice than a New Year's bowl, the rush will be on for game prep and travel after finals, and the Warriors are playing on their home field.
All that leads up to the big points:
  • ND has not won a bowl game this century
  • a win takes the edge off a rough finish to the regular season
  • a win shows that Charlie does have the team's attention and is leading them in the right direction
  • a loss creates a second consecutive losing season
  • the game will be in primetime and not up against other games so everyone (read: recruits) will be watching

Let's hope Santa's not too busy that night to drop a W down the Irish's chimney.

This Old Cub Gets Snubbed Again



























Looks like the cat is still at work. The Baseball Veterans Committee once again passed over Ron Santo on Monday. Santo's stats stack up against the best to ever play his position yet no love from the Hall of Fame... Wait 'til next year.

Straight No Chaser - Funny 12 Days of Christmas

Sunday, December 7, 2008

Something to Ponder ... Thomas Jefferson


"The man who reads nothing at all is better educated than the man who reads nothing but newspapers."


-- Thomas Jefferson

Saturday, December 6, 2008

Friday, December 5, 2008

Something to Ponder ... Dr. A. J. Gordon


Our generation is rapidly losing its grip upon the supernatural; and as a consequence, the pulpit is dropping rapidly to the level of the platform. And this decline is due, we believe, more than anything else, to an ignoring of the Holy Spirit as the supreme inspirer of preaching.


-- Dr. A. J. Gordon

Thursday, December 4, 2008

Something to Ponder ... Francis Chan


Could it be your arrogance that makes you think God owes you an explanation?
-- Francis Chan

Tuesday, December 2, 2008

Should he stay or should he go??


I'm working on a few thoughts on the issue. What do you think??

Monday, December 1, 2008

Link Dump 12/1/08

Happy December everybody! Time sure flies. I took a mini blogcation over the Thanksgiving weekend and am looking forward to posting a new batch of quotes, toons, book reviews, videos, and links for the upcoming days. It all starts with this link dump...


Honestly, Megaburgers Bore Me, But Here Are Some Crazy Photos Anyway

Top 11 Crazy Real Burgers You Can Eat

Testing Bullet-Proof Glass ladies, do you trust your husband this much???

Mike Bullmore: What We Should Do with Our Money

A Nation of Fig Trees

How to Encourage a Blogger this Christmas

10 Tips to Read More and Read Better

US Officials Flunk Test

Bob Jones U. Apologizes for Former Racist Policies

How to Build an Igloo : in case you just want to

10 Great Ways to Jumpstart Your Creativity

Abraham Lincoln offers Thanksgiving to God

6 Americans Among the Dead in India Terror Attacks

Cops Try to ID Shoppers in Deadly Wal-Mart Stampede just sad on so many levels...

Pastor Who Helped Get 'Under God' in Pledge Dies

FBI WARNS AL QAEDA POISED TO STRIKE U.S. AS TERRORISTS HIT INDIA

FCC Pushing for Free Internet Plan [Free Wi-Fi]

Five Best CD and DVD Burning Tools [Hive Five]

Send Text Messages From Your Email Account [SMS]

Belkin Mini Surge Protector with USB Charger [Stuff We Like]

Making Time for the MITs (Most Important Things) [Back To Work]

Fun with Church Bumper Stickers…

Why You Need An Estate Plan And How To Set One Up.

Five Ways Husbands Can Have More Sex With Their Wives - Part One

Create a Godly Memory, Send a VOM Action Pack

How to organize a theology of Romans...

12-pound, 28-inch pizza Challegnge, Oshkosh, WI

The Card To The Chosen Card Trick Tutorial do some magic tricks at your holiday gatherings

How many human lives is a flat panel TV worth?

thanksgiving myths