Soakin' Up Life . . . at a 100 MPH!

Ok, so this week I was not a convert (see last post ). No. . .I was way to busy getting ready for the Ten Towns Tour. The Ten Towns Tour is our in-house singles retreat. The name came from a passage of Scripture I read while putting the prep stuff together for this retreat. Our church's emphasis this month has been missions and evangelism. So, I wanted something that would challenge and encourage NoMo (short for North Mobile) Singles to reach other singles. As I was getting ready for the retreat and putting the pieces together I read Mark 5:1-20 . In this passage Jesus casts a legion (many) demons out of a man who was living in a cemetary and presumed to be crazy by the locals. No kidding? I would probably be crazy, too, especially if they were the demons of women. Can you imagine that many voices telling you what to do? YIKES!! ANYWAY. . .Jesus casts the demons into the pigs and they run into the sea - the first Bay of Pigs. :) When Jesus was ready to head out (he was s...

I don't believe in new year's resolutions. They never last - at least not for me. I do believe in life change - replacing bad habits with new ones, eating right, exercising, learning more, listening more - talking less (yes, this is one I've been working on), and things that reflect a positive, permanent - or at least a semi-permanent - change in my life. In 2004 I weighed about 215 lbs. At 5' 10 1/2", that's a lot of weight. I remember seeing a picture of myself and thought, "Where did I buy that shirt? Omars?" So. . .I made a life change. I began to change my eating habits - no more Milk Duds for dinner (no kidding - SAMs size box of Milk Duds and a Dr Pepper - great supper!), no more Hot Tamales , no more Cokes and Dr Peppers, no more chips and hot sauce (tough one for someone who LOVES Mexican food). I also set for my goal that summer to ride the Hotter-N-Hell 100 - a 100 mile bike ride in Wichita Falls, TX in August. Believe me it h...

Last night I finally broke down and bought a package of socks. Not just any socks, but good ol' white Hanes socks. In that package were 6 pairs of eyes-rollong-in-the-back-of-your-head comfort. The great thing about new socks is how cushiony they are. Don't know if cushiony is a word, but it best describes how great new socks feel. They seem to make you walk a little lighter. Know what I mean? My other socks were beginning to wear thin. I know when they're getting thin when while I'm wearing them they begin to slide off my feet. You see. . .I have skinny, narrow feet - is that redundant? Hmmm. . .Anyway, because I have skinny, narrow feet my socks begin to slide off - EVEN WHILE I'M WEARING THEM! Now there's a wierd feeling. Now if you ever want a cool feeling, just gather up about $8 or $9, purchase some new socks, slide them on the old steppers and feel the "aaahhhh"! So, now you know. New socks = cushiony Old socks = sliding off my feet Walking...

I've been told I need to update my blog. So here it is! Some have questioned my recent purchase of a Harley-Davidson motorcycle. They have even gone as far as to call it a Mid-Life Crisis . Yeah right! How dare they. :) Call it what you will, but I think not. I call it a Dream Fulfilled . And why do I say that? I have always been around motorcycles. My dad had them when I was young. I got a mini-bike in the 7th Grade. I've always rode friend's bikes. When I was older I knew one day I would own a motorcycle. I also knew it wouldn't be any motorcycle - it would be a Harley. So I waited . . .and waited. . . and waited. . . and waited. . . you get the picture. This year the waiting stopped. And now I own a motorcycle. Not just any motorcycle, but a Harley-Davidson motorcycle. (Click here to see pics of the bike) Ok. . .so I call it a dream fulfilled. How do I know. Check out these photos of me on my dad's motorcycle. It was 1963 and we were living on Okinawa ...

Am I getting a little carried away with this Longhorn No. 1 thing? Nope - not a little, A LOT!! I guess it has to do with the fact that the sports writers and announcers wouldn't give Texas the credit they were due AAANNNDDD the fact that so many were making light of the fact that they voted Reggie Bush the Heisman Trophy winner and now think maybe Vince Young should have gotten it. YOU THINK!!??? I thought the Heisman went to the best football player - not the best running back or the best quarterback, but the best player. What was it about Vince Young's stats that didn't convince them before, that finally convinced them last night? Last night he ran for 200 yards (the entire USC team only had 209 yards) - averaging 10.5 yards per carry, and threw for 267 yards. He didn't do anything any different than he had done all year long. He's cool under pressure, not afraid to take charge, and leads his team. All the while racking up yardage, TDs and wins like he's pi...

Ok - if you were ever in doubt - STOP IT!! Doubt no more. There is no question who the National Champions are - University of Texas Longhorns . It was a great game of great plays by great players led by great coaches. In spite of ALL that - TEXAS is No. 1 . So. . .in honor of my boys let's all join in and sing (to the tune of I've Been Working on the Railroad) The Eyes of Texas are upon you, All the live long day. The Eyes of Texas are upon you, You can not get away. Do not think you can escape them At night or early in the morn- The Eyes of Texas are upon you 'Till Gabriel blows his horn. Congrats guys!! And to all who supported the Horns on my behalf or the behalf of the boys, themselves - THANKS!! (sniff) Talk amongst yourselves. Where's my tissue? NO! That's not a snot bubble coming out of my nose. Mind your own business and let me enjoy this moment. . . Mike

It's here. IT'S FINALLY HERE!!! Texas v. USC I can't wait. I have student worship tonight, then it's straight home to catch the game of the century!! Don't know about you, but I will be camped out in front of my TV. Tonight I will be a FANatic! I will be a black-eyed, UT-shirt wearing, screaming, raging Longhorn fan. AND YOU CAN'T STOP ME!! Just go ahead and try to stop me. You can't! HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA. . . . . . . . . . . Until tomorrow. . . Mike " Hook 'em Horns " Shipp