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

I love the Olympics - just ask Cindy. I love great plays, great underdogs, and great efforts. Some of the things I've loved watching during this year's Olympics: Michael Phelps & 8 Gold Medals - As much as I love his effort, I have come to appreciate his humility. He never quits trying and smiles all the while. He kinda reminds me of a grown up version of Opie. USA Women's Indoor Volleyball Team - Almost lost against Italy - ranked #2 in the world - but fought hard to take it to a tie breaker game. The gals blew them out in the final game to move on to the medal round. USA Women's Soccer Team - Pushed China to the limits and won the game to put them in the gold medal game. The never gave up. Usain Bolt - He's just a freak of nature. Begs his coach to let him run the 100 m and blows the entire field away, breaks the world record while slowing down. USA Men's 400 Hurdlers - Angelo Taylor, Kerron Clements, and Bershawn "Batman" Johnson fini...

Well, we're wrapping up the week here. I've got to run some errands and Cindy is so very grateful it's FRIDAY! Last night she came home and crashed. She has 21 six year olds in her class, only 20 copies of all the material, and not enough desks. She says it's like herding kittens all day. She doesn't feel like she's getting to do much teaching. You might want to pray for here - or maybe the kids. Tonight I'm joining some friends and men from across the Mobile area for the Men of Valor Conference. I'm pretty pumped about it. It's tonight and tomorrow. Been running off and on since July. I'm trying to get on a more regular schedule and become more discipline about it. I'm not training for a specific run, like I have in the past. I'm just wanting running to become a bigger part of my lifestyle. So. . .in the trend of my blogging friend Robert Terrell , I'll be posting the results of my runs at the bottom of my posts. We...

Been watching the summer Olympics? I have. I can't seem to get enough. I love sports and don't mind watching them. Heck, I'll even watch golf, if that tells you something. I love the Olympics because it's not just Americans competing against each other, but it's the entire world. All you have to do is qualify on behalf of your country and you get to participate! How cool is that?! Besides that you get great stories like Michael Phelps - 11 Gold medals all time (more than any other athlete in history) and underdogs like the US' men's gymnastics team who comes from nowhere to earn a bronze. Here are a few of my favorite sports to watch: Swimming - I love swimming and participating in a few triathlons you learn to appreciate the skill, energy, and endurance it takes to be one of the best - if not the best. Track & Field - ran track in high school and love to watch these athletes perform. Volleyball - Indoor or outdoor, it doesn't matter. Soccer...

This weekend our church ( First Baptist North Mobile ) will partner with Cottage Hill Baptist Church of Mobile to host the Man of Valor Conference. I'm pretty pumped about it, especially since I didn't think I was going to be able to attend. BUT. . .because of God's grace and the work of the folks at North Mobile I am getting to go. Not only am I excited about the opportunity, but I'm very grateful. To be sure, I'm very , very grateful. . .and humbled by it all. Side Note: We are hosting Men's Church on Sunday at 5:30 pm in the Student Center. So if you're a guy, or a gal who knows a guy, who's looking for a place just for guys I openly invite you to hang out with us! Humbled, Mike

I'm trying out a new look. I've had the same look to the Soakin' Up Life blog for the past 3 years. I went with the "ship" theme - get it? May still change some things or even give it a whole new look. Let me know what you think. Mike

Well, the summer's finally over. Schools in Mobile county start back next Monday and Cindy's in conferences all this week. It's been a busy summer for us. It began with a 2-week mission trip to Tanzania where we saw God's majesty and power in ways we've never seen before. After being home for a couple of weeks we headed to Texas where I shared my story and walk through the valley of life with a couple of churches in the Dallas/Ft. Worth area. Then we headed to Wichita Falls for Extreme Days Camp at Camp Chaparral. I taught the guys in the morning about Character, Integrity, and Attitude and taught a "Chat Room" (small group) on how to use your talents for the Kingdom of God in the afternoon. Then, the last week of July, we headed to the Portland, OR area to meet some friends and make some new friends. We got home last Thursday (7/31) and on Saturday (8/2) drove to Atlanta, GA to celebrate my Uncle Jerry & Aunt Sue's 50th wedding anniversary ...