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

I didn't post anything yesterday because I was working in the yard all day. It was one of those things that has needed to be done for some time now, but I have been putting it off for so long. SO, I woke up yesterday and committed myself, my time, and my energy to getting the yard back in shape. By the time I finished I was in no shape to post anything. Why? Great question. Let me explain. First, and foremost, I HATE yard work. Actually, I don't hate working in the yard I just hate getting started. I usually find working in the yard rewarding. If you're like me and need instant reward/gratification, then yard work is the way to go. When you're finished you can see the results of your work. It's the getting started that's so hard for me. So, I plugged in my iPod - yesterday started with John Mayer's Continuum . Jumped on the mower and piled up leaves in the front and back yard. Got the front yard done. Still need to finish the back yard. It

Ok, so I'm about to date myself here. Some of you remember way back in the 80s when there was this thing called " Word of the Day ." It about learning and using " power words " to get ahead in the world. You can still get a word for the day, or even power words for the day. I even found out you can get cool words for the day. This morning as I was doing my study time - yes I actually got up at the time I usually get up so I could do all the stuff I usually do in the morning (see yesterday's post ). In my quiet time I'm going through Max Lucado's study, Experiencing the Heart of Jesus . This morning it's on faith. The word of the day is FAITH . Max makes several good statements about faith: Faith is the conviction that Jesus can and a hope that He will. Faith is not (my emphasis) the belief that God will do what you want, but that He will do what is right. Faith is the belief that God is real and God is good. As I pondered and journal

Getting back into the routine of things after being off for a week pretty much sucks. I'm heading back into the office this morning after a week off and I'm not doing so well. If you're like me you stay up later, sleep in later, and don't do as much as you normally do when you're used to going into work. Well. . .that's me. Last week I did very little, except hang out with people - I'm pretty good at that. Now, I've got to get up and get going and my body's rejecting what my mind knows is supposed to happen - get up between 5:30 - 6:00 am, animals, eat, quiet time, dress. Ain't happenin' here folks. . .at least not today. What about you? Do you have trouble jumping back into things after some time off? If not, then how do you keep from it? I can use all the help I can get. Mike

I made this centerpiece for my coffee table in the living room. I found a bunch of red Christmas balls that Karen used for some kind of decoration and wanted to do something with them, but there wasn't quite enough for what I wanted to do, so I bought some more and added the gold Christmas ball. I DO have my creative moments. For me, it represents Christ's divinity coming to humanity. Christ is like the gold Christmas ball It's like the other ones - similar in size and shape, but it's also different. It stands out from all the other ones. Christ was like us in size and shape. He was like us in how He entered humanity - as a baby. He was like us in how he encountered life and the temptations that go along with growing up in this world. But He was different. He stood out. He lived a life unlike any to that point in time or since. He did things no man had ever done and has never done since. He WAS the same, yet different. I thank God today for his Son - the sam

Luke 2:8-14 gives us the greatest birth announcement in all of history. In an era where parents go to great lengths to announce the birth of their children - believe me, I've been the recipient of many a fancy birth announcement. But I don't know any child whose parent has had an angel announce their birth. Talk about a birth announcement befitting that of the Son of God. For me, though, it's not the announcement that catches my attention. It's the words of the angel, " I bring you good news that will bring great joy to all people. The Savior—yes, the Messiah, the Lord—has been born today in Bethlehem, the city of David! " The angel's words announce the birth a child, not just any child, but the birth of the Savior . . . the Messiah . . . the Lord . It is the announcement of the perfect prophet, priest, and king for all of mankind - once for all. Today we celebrate. We celebrate the birth of not just a baby, but our Savior . Won't you cele

Read this article this morning by Todd Rhoades. When was the last time you had child-like faith in God? Maybe we adults ought to stop having adult-like faith - the kind that lends itself to reason, rationalism, and ritualistic prayers and faith - and get back to the child-like faith He so desires of each one of us. The kind of faith that prays for new legs and cries for the lost. Mike

Saw this on Marko's blog. Just had to share it with you. Name the song and tell me what you think.

Well. . .I'm here. . .home. . . Waxahachie, Texas - home of the Fightin' Indians . It's nice. Not just Waxahachie, but being home. Got here on Saturday. Had Christmas with the fam (pictures to come). Yesterday we all went to church - The Oaks Fellowship in Waxahachie. Great worship - opened with Trans-Siberian Orchestra's Christmas Eve Sarajevo . It was very worshipful and uplifting at the same time. They did a great job. The message was equally challenging - the message of the the purpose of Christ's coming in the angel's announcement and the heavenly hosts' song - Jesus Saves Us Jesus Sustains Us More about the message later. Just take it from me that Scott Wilson did an excellent job communicating the message and I was ministered to. This morning I got up and went for a run. It's the first time I've run since the 10K on Nov 4. Due to traveling, sickness, and busy-ness I just haven't made it a priority. This morning I did. I r

It's not really my first Christmas tree. It's just the first one I've ever purchased on my own. As a matter of fact, it's the first one I've had input on since 1984 - Karen's and my first Christmas. I found pictures of that one the other day. It was pretty pitifull. It was a display model and we bought it lights and all. The lights were outdoor lights. . . I think. Imagine that in a little living room! After Karen passed away I gave away all the Christmas trees and most of the decorations. She would put a tree of some sort in every room. Plus house decorations. I'm sure you could imagine the amount of stuff we would haul out every year. Now I have a couple of boxes of Christmas tree ornaments and a few decorations. So last Thursday I went to Wal-Mart and bought a tree - pre-lit. Now, let me tell you, that's the way to go. Karen would probably be rolling her eyes at me if she knew I wasn't hand wrapping each of the branches with a bajilli

Mark it down - you heard it here first - West Virginia's Rich Rodriguez is coming to the University of Alabama . According to today's Mobile Register (local paper), Mal Moore, Athletic Director for University of Alabama and Rodriguez's agent have agreed in terms, but the deal is awaiting Rodriguez's hancock before everything is final. So, I guess this answers the question, Who in their right mind would come to Alabama? BUT WAIT!! I just ran across this and found this on ESPN.com. Looks like Rodrigues isn't going to Alabama after all. Even if it meant almost doubling his salary. So. . .it looks like something akin loyalty is still alive and well. Then again, I'll believe it when I see it. Mike

Just read that Barry Bonds signed a $16,000,000 deal for 1 year with the San Francisco Giants . Yes, sports fans that $16 and six zeros. . .$16 MILLION dollars for one year. I just don't get it. Somebody help me understand how this guy is worth this much money to an organization. Don't the Giants know they could have gotten him for a lot less since pretty much everyone else had packed up and gone home from baseball's winter meetings? I'm still baffled. Mike

One of Karen's favorite songs was Baby, It's Cold Outside with Louis Armstrong and Velma Middleton . She loved that song, especially when it would turn cold. Well guess what. . .Baby , it's cold outside . This morning it was 27-degrees when I left the house at around 8 0'clockish. Now for some of you, you're thinking, " Get a grip. That ain't cold. " But for Lower Alabama that's cold. For a place that doesn't require a sweater in the winter that's cold. For a place where people are still wearing shorts and flip-flops, that's cold. Wouldn't suggest wearing shorts today, eh? I love it. I miss the cold of the Dallas/Fort Worth area. I miss putting on sweaters and sweatshirts. I love going out in the morning and seeing your breath in the cool of the morning. I miss taking a walk in the brisk of the evening. I miss needing wood for the fireplace and cuddling up on the couch with a blanket a good book or movie. It just doesn

Love this Calvin & Hobbes comic , especially at this time of the year. Maybe you were like Calvin. Maybe your children are like Calvin. Maybe you know someone like Calvin. Either way we can all relate to him in some way or another. Mike

Ranger the cat, better known as " The Range " hasn't been feeling too well these past couple of days. It started a couple of days ago when I couldn't find him. I often let he and Lucy outside to play for a while. Lucy likes the comforts of home so she doesn't go out of the yard. But The Range likes to play in the woods next to the house. He has often played through the night - yeah, he was left outside. The thing about The Range is that he always came home. He always showed back up. So I was a bit suspicious the other night when he didn't show up and I knew it was going to be in the 20's that night - I think it was Monday night. The truth be told, he had been MIA for a couple of days. Last night while I was getting ready for a banquet he showed up. I thought he had finally come home!! I picked him up aaannnddd. . .he was warm, not like he had been outside. I put him down and he disappeared. I finally tracked him down. . .under the bed. He wo

So what did I really do yesterday. I did work in the yard for a little bit. I've been sick and after a while my energy dropped considerably, so I headed inside. Will probably do some more work in the yard on Saturday. Ok, so here's the scoop: Balanced my checkbook. I had been off a little and it was driving me crazy. Yesterday, I found where I was off. The world is aright now - at least Mike's world is aright. Began filing - this isn't a big deal for most people. It's a big deal for Mike - or anyone who likes to file by pile. I literally sat in the floor of my office and went through every piece of paper on my desk, credenza, and on the floor. Actually, I can see the glass on my desk now - WOOHOOO!! I can see the glass on my credenza as well. Still have some papers, old receipts, etc. to shred, but that's a chore to be done while watching the tube. Did some Christmas Shopping Attended a dinner for Here's Life - a ministry who does missions to Afr