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

I may have just adopted another buddy. No I'm not talking about a friend I can go to a movie with or ride motorcycles with. He's not even a two-legged buddy. He's the four-legged kind. While I was running today I came across this new friend who followed me home. I couldn't find anyone who knew where he came from. So. . .he met Mix and they got to know each other as only dogs can do, then they played for a little while. Then he met the girls. Now he's kind of keeping to himself in the back of the yard. He's a blue-heeler, like Mix. But he's younger and has a white band around his neck and chest. His face, ears, back, and legs look just like Mix. I haven't named him yet. I may try to see if I can find a home for him first. He's a great little dog. We'll just have to see. Photos to come.

Oh man, it's a great day here and it's going to be one of those days. The weather is spectacular here in LA (Lower Alabama). There's a slight breeze, the sun is shining, and it's somewhere between 75-80 degrees. The high is only supposed to be 85 today. And you know what? I dont' feel like doing anything, but resting. Been spending some time in God's Word this morning and in prayer. That's always good. Just finished posting a blog on In the Midst of the Valley . Been reading some other blogs - always something strange, funny, or insightful. A few things I MUST do today Wal-Mart - cats like to eat, though Lucy could stand to lose a few pounds Finances - probably ought to figure out how much money I really do have - want to be a good steward Bank - bill collectors like it when there's money in my account Cars - new registration stickers and clean them and the motorcycle Men's Bible Study - go over lesson again, set up and lead study tonight Ru...

Yesterday was another milestone in my running life. I ran 2 miles for the first time in, at least, 2 years. And, man, did it feel good!! I did it in 17:11 - that's about an 8:35 mile. Not bad, if I do say so myself. I did push it a bit, but felt great when I finished. The knees feel like they're holding up. I'm looking to run a 10K (6.2 miles) in November as a fund raiser for a local ministry we support and work closely with called Home of Grace. They are a Bible-based, Christ-centered rehab center for women with addictive behaviors - predominantly drug and alcohol. I'll get the details to you in the near future for those who would like to sponsor me and help support this incredible work. It's been a long, long time since I've run this far. I think I ran close to this distance one day with my Jingle Bell Run buddy, Stacey. He was training for the Houston Marathon . But that's been a while. So pray for me. Pray for physical strength, wisdom, and endurance....

Let this serve as a health warning! DO NOT , I repeat, DO NOT listen to AC/DC Live if you are planning on running your easy Saturday run, unless. . . You're already running 3-4 days a week (I've taken about a week and a half off) You have been running and want to push your heart rate up and time down You haven't been running much, but want to see what you're made of You're a masochist and just like pain (I think that's me) You just love AC/DC and don't really care about easy runs I finished my run before Angus and the boys from down under completed their first three songs - Thunderstruck, Shoot to Thrill, & Back in Black . I was fast, but every nerve in my body was screaming when I finished. Alright, I'll admit it, I like the feeling at the end of a run when I've pushed myself. So. . .it's up to you. Heed the warning and enjoy, or don't heed the warning and feel the pain, then smile really big for pushing yourself. Mike

Well, the signs are adding up. The inevitiable will be true soon enough. Went to the eye doctor today. It's time for my usual checkup. Got to make sure the peepers are in good working order. Everything is fine. My contacts' strength hasn't changed. That's good. And my both eyes are the same strength. This helps because it doesn't really matter which contact goes into which eye - their both the same. Buuuttttt. . .now I need glasses for reading. I do have choices. Wear only one contact at a time. Problem: no depth perception at night, everything looks at the same depth. So if you're in front of me, your brake lights look like they are the same distance as the brake lights in front of you - kinda scary, huh? If for some reason I do end up driving at night with only one contact I tend to drive with one eye closed. No it's not the one with the contact in it. Bifocal contacts - that's just too wierd for me. Me? Bifocals? Call me vaine, but t...

I started running again this week. I have held off for the last couple of years because of pain in my right knee. Had a doctor check it out. He said it had something to do with my meniscus . It didn't hurt when I ran, but was very painful afterwards. So I stopped. I love to run. It's easy - just put on my running shoes and head out the door. I have always loved to run. Now, I'm trying it again. Slowly. Ran a couple of times this week and have had no after affects. My legs are sore, but that's just getting my running legs back. Hope this continues. So what are you doing you haven't done in a while, or maybe you're doing something for the first time? Runnin' on, Mike

Yeah. . .yeah. . .yeah, I know. It's been a while since I wrote something. Come to think of it I didn't even write something that last time I posted. I just added a video. Cool video by the way. So here's what's been happening since I last posted something. Last Friday night - rode the Harley, went to see Invincible with Mark Wahlberg , went to Starbucks for some juice (no, not like fruit juice, I'm talking the juice of life - what keeps us - ok, me - going). Invincible - great flick. Will definitely add it to the video collection. It's clean and something you can take the kids to see. It will also encourage you!! Last Saturday night - rode the Harley across the bay to Malbis (cool shopping center there if you like to shop - I do. Yes, I'm strange - get over it. You probably know this by now). Headed back to Mobile to watch the Alabama & Auburn games ( Roll Tide!! ) - couldn't get into two restaraunts, so I found a local place to e...

Ran across this on youtube.com. This is crazy.

So, by now you are wondering - I know, it's driving you crazy - did he bale or mow? Well. . .after considering the costs, the time, and the effort I . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .mowed. Yep, I mowed. It was nice this morning with a sweet little breeze blowing through the yard, so I jumped on the ol' mower and cut away. 2 1/2 hours later I had a nice clean yard, trimmed to perfection. The edges were cut. The long ones that were missed by the mower were weed-eated (word? sure why not) away. And all the concrete surfaces were blown clean. I love a clean yard. I hate the yard work, but I love the result. I also spent another hour wading in the pond replacing the rocks around the edge. I recently put a new liner it, but had never put the rocks back. This morning was that morning. I still have some things to do - more mulch to cover up the excess liner, get rid of the weeds and dead leaves, re-arrange rocks to make it look better. But, all-in-all it's coming together. Th...

This past Saturday I had the incredible privilege of bringing our singles together to share with them a vision for our new singles ministry. It's called It incorporates Jesus' prayer in John 17:21 that we may be one, just as He and God are one. It also promotes the concept that just like the number 1 is complete - it doesn't need another number to make it a number - single adults are complete. Apart from Christ, they don't need someone else to make them complete as a person. It also says that, coporately, we are one - united in purpose, direction, spirit, and service. It was very good time. Some great worship - Thanks Alex for bringing it all together. Had some good fun thinking outside the box and getting adults out of their comfort zone. Here are some pics from the evening Alex, Jill, & Dave leading worship Singles Worshipping Becky & Milton playing Gorilla, Man, Gun Gorilla, Man, Gun is a full bodied version of the old paper, rock scissors game. Only dif...

Well. . .it's been a couple of weeks since I last mowed the yard. Since I was out all last week and have been pretty busy most nights this week, I just haven't had a chance to mow. I was leaving this morning thinking, either I've got to mow, or get a baler and start selling hay. Yeah, it's pretty sad. I'm almost afraid to let Ranger or Lucy (my cats) out in the back yard. I'm afraid I would lose them. Looks like tomorrow is M-Day. Yep, gotta get 'er done. It's crazy. I know. Then again, I'm strange. Enjoy the rest of the week - I'll be ridin' the mower in the morning. Mike

Ok, break's over, time to get back to posting! I just read my friend, Gene's, blog. Gene is an ANIMAL ! Or the most masochistic person I know. Don't believe me?He runs marathons, 50K trail runs, and does 100 mile bike rides. He's also done a couple of triathlons (we did one together one year - good times) Now, dont' take this wrong, but Gene ain't no spring chicken, though he's a springier chicken than most guys his age. This year he rode in the Hotter-N-Hell 1oo . It's a 100 mile bike ride in Wichita Falls, Texas in the middle of the freaking Texas summer. Gene did it. We both did it a couple of years ago - the weather was not so hot and not so hellish that year. But this year? I was in Wichita Falls in July. It was 104 degrees at 11:00 am one morning. Now that's stinkin' hot! Props to you Gene! You're a freakin' ANIMAL . An ANIMAL I said!! Miss riding with you. Maybe next year! To check out Gene's thoughts on this year...

I will be taking a break during the rest of the week - unless I can get connected to the internet. Our staff will be on its annual staff retreat. Please pray for us. Chalet Shocco , here we come. Mike

It's been a great day! Ever have those days. You know. . .you wake up, have some idea of what you need/want to do, then just live the day? I did that today. Got up about 7:30 this morning, got the animals taken care of then headed out the door on the back of my SA-WEEET (for those having trouble it's "sweet" - means nice, cool, etc.) Harley and rode down to the local Lenny's. . .I mean Denny's for some breakfast and time with the local newspaper . It was good, filling, and relaxing. After I whoofed down breakfast I talked myself into going heading north on Hwy 45. Hadn't ever been up that way before so. . .what the heck. Rode up to Waynesboror, MS . And what a ride it was. The sun was out, not too hot, and definitely not a lot of traffic. Turned around at Waynesboro, MS and arrived at the house around 1:00 pm. Once inside I changed into something a little more comfortable and climbed into bed for a two-hour nap. Afterwhich, I cleaned the house. ...

Ok, so I know I need to get busy. But while I was surfing some blogs I like to read, I came to Marko's blog - he's a Youth Specialties guy and found this . You gotta love it! So, if you're looking for something to get me for Christmas. . . let me suggest. . .

Ever have those days off when it really doesn't feel like a day off. Well. . .that's how I feel today. Between getting the yard cleaned up - mowed, edged, weed-eated (is this s a word?), and blown off - and getting ready for my men's Bible study that begins tonight, and finishing up re-writing 5 more lessons today/tomorrow, I just don't feel like it's a day off. So, with that said, I will head off into the whirlwind that's ahead of me. If you don't hear from me by tomorrow, send help. Until then, Mike

It's 10:30 pm and a huge storm just blew threw our part of the world (Mobile, AL). It got me to thinking. . . I love storms. Actuall I love the rain. I love the sound it makes. I love the smell of rain. I love the cleansing and refreshing effect it has on life. I love sleeping when it's raining. There's just something about rain that is so peaceful to me. It calms me. It eases my anxieties. It settles my spirit. I love rain!! So, I think I will get ready for bed. Cover my head. And listen quietly as the rain falls gently on this earth. G'nite, Mike

Went to see the movie, World Trade Center , Friday night. It shows the 9-11 tragedy from the side of some of those sent in to evacuate the towers. Oliver Stone directs and does a masterful job at telling the story, not just the who, what, when, where, why, and how stuff, but telling the personal story of those involved. This story is told from the point of view of two men, Port Authority Policemen, who risked their lives to save people, but were caught inside when the towers collapsed. I liked how the stories of the families were included as well and how it affected the wives, the children, parents, etc. I also appreciated how it showed the perseverence of the rescue workers and firemen who were willing to risk their lives for the search of anyone who might be alive and how this event took its toll on them as well. It takes some time getting through some of the scenes, but I found myself quietly intrigued by the stories of the people involved. It was pretty silent in the theater dur...

This morning I had to get up and take Dakota, my German Shepherd, to the vet. (Here's a picture of Dakota and Sadie) You know. . .at least with children you can get insurance. Ol' Baby 'Kota cost me an arm and a leg for shots and medicine for her ear - she gets ear infections very easy, parents ought to know what that's like, eh? I told her I was going to put tubes in her ears. She just looked at me funny. I also got flea medicine and some heartworm medicine for all the dogs. With all the animals I have I'm going to have to take out a loan just for their annual checkups. Well, it's one down and four more to go. The rest just get their shots. Hopefully it won't be too bad. Anyone need a kid. . .er, I mean pet? :) Mike

Today I'm recovering. "Recovering from what?", you might ask. Thank you for asking. I'm recovering from a great weekend of rafting on the Ocoee River in southeast Tennessee with 17 of our singles. Click [ here ] for a map of where we were. Here's the group before we left. We are looking like a group ready to go. We finally got to the ladies' cabin about 11:00 Thursday night. Not only was our cabins not in Ducktown (just 3 miles north of the Georgia state line), they were on two separate mountains altogether! We finally found them. The ladies' cabis was very, very, nice. 2 Bedrooms, 2 baths, with two lofts - one on either side of the living room (one above each bedroom). Great living room and kitchen area, with a large front porch and beautiful view off of the back porch. Click [ here ] for pics of the ladies cabin. The guys cabin, on the other hand, was a bit rustic. Yes, that was the name of the cabin, "Rustic Retreat." We came in r...