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

I'm in a bit of a quandary right now. It's the old PC v. Mac thing. My Dell Latitude D600 is fading fast. I've broken one of the hinges and it's getting a bit rusty. I've never owned anything but a Dell. I've owned a Dell P-133 desktop, an Inspiron 3500, and now my Latitude D600. Now don't get me wrong. I have worked on Macs before. When I was in the corporate world my first word processor was an Mac Plus - we often referred to them as Mac in the Box because the monitor floppy drive and hard drive was all self-contained in this little box. But because they were so expensive to fix our company went to a PC network and I've never looked back. Besides, PCs were easy to upgrade and there was a lot more software available for PCs. Now. . .with the advent and implementation of the dual-core processor by Apple I've reconsidered purchasing a Mac. I would love to purchase a Mac-Book Pro with the hopes of being able to run both Mac-based and Windows-...

It's official! Last night I submitted my resignation as Adult Education and Singles Pastor to pursue and develop a new ministry - ManHeart Ministries . MHM is designed to help guys - young or old, married or single - become the man God designed and desires them to be through retreats, weekend adventures, small group retreats, camps or any other manner God sees fit to use. That means on June 1, 2007 I will be solely employed by ManHeart Ministries. This will allow me to travel, write, teach, and other ways hang with guys to help them in their pursuit of God, the woman in their life, and a small band of brothers. To find out more click on the current version of the ministry's logo. Want to do something to help? Glad you volunteered. The primary thing you can do right now is to pray. You can pray for the following: That I continue to hear God's voice Opportunities to speak and share Financial needs of the ministry Creativity while I write Understanding and wisdom as I ...

Well. . .my preparations for my trip to Tanzania, Africa continues. You may recall that I'm going as part of a mission trip in June. I will be serving alongside a couple of other pastors to minister to the pastors in the area where we will be serving, as well as being part of the Jesus Film teams that will go out at night to show the Jesus Film and present the gospel. Pretty cool, huh? One thing about going is that we will, except for a couple of days, be camping in tents out in the bush. This means the only water available is what we bring in bottles. Because there will be so many on the trip and water is so precious, it can only be used for cooking and consumption. Therefore, no showers and no washing of the doo - hairdo's that is. So in preparation for the trip and because I will be out so much in June I went ahead and solved the problem. . .I got my doo done. I called upon the extensive hairstyling skills of Diane Aultman and this is what we came up with. Here are t...

Not too long ago I ran across my ol' French Press coffee maker. Until then I had forgotten all about it . I've started using it again. It's not my fancy-shmancy Barista coffee maker, but it makes a smooth cup of coffee. . .and it's simple. All you do is throw some grounds in the bottom of the glass pitcher, heat up some water, add the water to the grounds, let it steep for five minutes, press the plunger to the bottom of the pitcher, and pour. What do you get for all this? Like a said, one smooth cup of coffee with no after taste. It's goooooood. I forgot about how much I really enjoy French Press coffee. For me, It's one of those simple delights in life. It doesn't require much, just a little extra time. What do I get? A great cup of coffee. For me it's much like riding my motorcycle and feeling the wind in my face, or riding my bicycle and experiencing the child-like freedom we have to go where we want at our own pace, or hanging out at the ...

Some of you may know that in June I will be leaving for a 2-week mission trip to Tanzania, Africa. I will be serving alongside a couple of pastors as we have the privilege of ministering to the pastors of the area where we will be serving. I'm not quite sure where that will be yet. Plans are still being made. I've had to start the prep work - shots, additional medication, stuff for the field, just imagine me in the wilderness with no showers for 3-4 days at a time. Got it, now I need stuff to take the place of showers. Yesterday, I took another big step in the prep work, I purchased a new backpack. It's not like I will be using it as my main bag - we have footlockers for that - so I didn't need an expedition size backpack. The purpose of this backpack is to carry on the plane with me while complying with certain size and weight regulations to get all the way to Tanzania with me. In it I have to carry an extra set of clothes, toiletries, books, travel necessities,...

I haven't posted anything about the shootings at Virginia Tech. Mostly because I'm not sure what to say. I have this gnawing fear that, at times like these, I will say something I don't mean, I will share empty words, or just say something wrong. So, I don't say anything. I was reading a friend's blog and as I read it I kept thinking, " This is what I would like say ." So (with permission) I'm re-posting my friend, Gene Wilkes' post on the event. Mourning with VT The day David, I and 23,000 others ran the Boston Marathon , Cho Seung-Hui shot and killed 33 Virginia Tech students and faculty and then turned a gun on himself. The victims were of different races, ages and from several different countries. They represented the hope we share as Americans. President Bush said on Tuesday, "They were simply in the wrong place at the wrong time." I would rather say, ...

This past weekend was beautiful in a several ways: Weather was extraordinary. Cool breeze, sunshine. . .couldn't have asked for better weather. My brother, Jerry, was able to come visit for the weekend. Because of his own valley experience he hasn't been able to come see me in a very long time. It was great to see him again. Jerry didn't come alone. He came with my mom, dad, and Jane (my dad's wife - yep, my step-mom - don't really like the term, but. . .). They all came together from Texas to help me get some things done around the house. Because the crew came to help I was able to get some stuff ready for an estate sale and finish some projects to get the house ready to sell. Yeah, it's pretty cool to have a family like mine! I'm blessed. Mike

Don't know if this is sacreligious or not, but it's pretty good. Baby Got Book Mike

I used to write a lot on my In the Midst of the Valley blog. Haven't written anything in quite a while. That's changed. I wrote something today. Will probably write more in the future. Mike

Catching up on some blogs I haven't read in a while. I was reading Mark Batterson's blog and ran across a comment he made in one of his posts : It doesn't last long but nothing like the feeling of an empty inbox ! Do you like an empty inbox? I do, but I leave emails in there as reminders of things I need to do or people I need to contact. Maybe I should add them to my to-do list and get rid of them. Now there's a thought, eh? What about you?

I've already had a call this morning from a friend concerned about me after reading the Held post. I'm fine. I just had a moment this morning. Those moments happen, and according to a friend who also lost his wife about 12 or 13 years ago, those moments never go away. The difficult thing about them is that they don't look at your calendar or get with your people to plan them. They just happen. It's a part of life. . .my life. It will always be a part of me - from now to the end of my life on this alien planet. I appreciate any concern you may have for me, but I'm OK. REALLY! Thanks, Mike

Heard Natalie Grant's Held this morning. I had mixed emotions. This was very popular when my wife, Karen, passed away . Part of me was ok with the song. I just listened. The words are so powerful and anyone who has lost another to death, illness, drugs, alcohol, pornography, an accident, or to anything else can very well relate to them. I've heard it a number of times before with no problems. Part of me was reminded of those mornings right after Karen died. My alarm would go off telling me to get up and face another day and this song would come across the air waves right into my bedroom. On those mornings it would remind me of her absence, making missing her all the more painful. Maybe that was the emotion that I was struggling with today? Mike

This morning I'm at the house hanging out. It was supposed to be pouring down rain. Side Note: A thought just hit me - we say, "it's pouring down rain" - what else is it supposed to be pouring? Hail? Snow? Lightening? Just doesn't fit does it? Can't we just say it's pouring and understand that it's raining real hard? Just a thought. Anyway. . .I had planned on staying in, cleaning, writing, getting some stuff done this today at the house because of the prediction of rain. I also stayed up longer that I would normally would have - I was planning on hitting the rode and putting some miles on my bike. So I slept in expecting to wake up to the sound of rain splattering the trees around my house. At 9:30 I finally get up to the sound of. . . nothing! I got up and moped for a while - I could have gotten in a well needed ride before the rain gets here. Oh well. I'll just have to make it up somehow. Speed cleaning! That's it. Is there ...

Ever just not want to be in the office? That's me this morning. The weather is incredible here in north Mobile - it's 53 degrees heading up to 80 with 8 mph winds and clear skies. I can think of bajillion things I could be doing other than being couped up in the office. Here are just a few of them: Riding my bike (it's supposed to rain tomorrow and I really want to get in some miles) Riding my Harley (wind in my face, cruising down the road) Going to the beach (wind, sun, waves - nuff said) Working in the yard/around the house (always something to do) Going for a drive in Pia (that's my Passat) with the roof back and the tunes blaring Going to a park to read and write (just relaxing under a tree) Going kayaking/canoing (paddling down a cool-water river) Did I say ride my bike? (oh yeah, I think I said that already) These are just a few off the top of my head. What would you do on a day like today? Mike

On Easter Sunday I had lunch with the Boggan clan. The matriarch, Julia, is one of our senior adult Bible study teachers. She's incredible. She's 85 and still writes her own lessons, makes a copy for everyone in her ABF, and has more fun than a senior adult ought to. This past Sunday I went to Julia & Wilson's house, along with their wild and crazy family, for lunch. I went on the Harley. I had been teasing Julia that I was bringing it so I could take her for a ride. After lunch one of the boys came and asked if I would take him for a ride on the Harley. Before I could say a thing Julia spoke up and declared that no one was riding the Harley until after she had her ride. So. . .Julia and I loaded up and took off. She was great. Here are some pics, Not only did she like riding the motorcycle she told me to go by the house on our way back. She wasn't ready to get off just yet! So, if you think you're too old to try something new, think again. If Julia...

Tuesdays are my scheduled riding days. This past Tuesday it had been raining all day and I really wanted to go for a ride. I'm not really thrilled at the prospect of riding my road bike on wet, slick roads. BUT my friend Ron let me borrow his mountain bike for a couple of days to check out and see if I can figure out why the back tire keeps going flat. Yep, you got it. It hit me on the way home from the office, " What a great way to check out the bike, the tire, and still get in a ride. " I ran in the door and quickly changed c lothes, re-adjusted the seat, and headed out the door in search of some trails to test Ron's bike. They are cutting some roads for a new edition, golf course, or something about a half a block down the road from my house. It's nothing but mud, puddles, rocks, sticks, and limbs waiting to be explored by anyone foolish enough to do it in the rain. And guess what?! I was that foolish. Oh yeah, I know you're surprised. Aren'...

I learned a long time ago that, for me, cycling helps me cope with the ups and downs of life. I find that when I don't ride then I'm more susceptible to mood swings, not sleeping well at night, and eating all the wrong stuff. I can ride with a group or alone, it doesn't matter to me. You see, riding allows me time alone with my thoughts - talking with God, praying for people and situations, working through problems (yes, I talk to myself - actually I carry on entire conversations with myself), singing, and just being alone with me. I like me and I like being alone with me. Ok, so I'm weird. This past Friday I was on a 30-mile ride and, for some reason, I remembered Karen's last week alive. She made me go ride - twice that week. I was tired and didn't really feel like it, yet Karen's words encouraged me. So I changed clothes, threw my bike in the back of the truck and headed to ride with our group - Angelina Bicycle Club . I was taken back to one of ...

Yeah, ok, so it the title should read Today is the Day! But I was busy last night so I didn't get a chance to post. So. . .it's Yesterday was the Day . " The day for what? ", you may be asking yourself. Mmmmmmm. . . If you've been tracking things here at Soakin' Up Life you know that I haven't been soakin' up very much lately because I've been so worn out. Well. . .last week the guys I meet with each week for Bible study jumped my case about not working out, running, cycling, or SOMETHING! Then, when got home yesterday a friend of mine TOLD me to get on my bike and hit the road - not suggest, told me to head out the door! I took their advice. I hung up the phone, changed clothes, grabbed my bike and headed out the door for a 20-mile ride. What a difference 20 miles makes. The first 5-10 miles about beat me up, then I got in the groove and started pedaling and looking for places to ride. I've been scared to ride on the roads arou...

Sunday was an incredible day of study and worship at North Mobile . We had one Bible study hour and one worship hour - we normally have 2 & 2. I taught the singles and had a blast as we lifted the surface of Jesus' first miracle of turning water into wine. Believe me, there's more than meets the eye. Not only was it a great day of worship, fellowship, and study, but it rained STINKIN' HARD! How hard was it raining? you ask. Well. . .it was raining so hard you couldn't see the parking lot from the lobby of the church. It didn't affect worship. . .much, but it did affect Mike a lot. Got home after church ready to eat some homemade toquitos (scrambled eggs & cheese wrapped in a tortilla). Sat down to eat and check the tube, when before my wondering eyes appears water splatter on my coffee table. My heart sank and my head dropped. NO! Not this! I couldn't find where the water came from - it could have only come from my ceiling, but there wasn...

Reading Luke 7:36-50 this morning. 36 Now one of the Pharisees invited Jesus to have dinner with him, so he went to the Pharisee's house and reclined at the table. 37 When a woman who had lived a sinful life in that town learned that Jesus was eating at the Pharisee's house, she brought an alabaster jar of perfume, 38 and as she stood behind him at his feet weeping, she began to wet his feet with her tears. Then she wiped them with her hair, kissed them and poured perfume on them. 39 When the Pharisee who had invited him saw this, he said to himself, "If this man were a prophet, he would know who is touching him and what kind of woman she is—that she is a sinner." 40 Jesus answered him, "Simon, I have something to tell you." "Tell me, teacher," he said. 41 "Two men owed money to a certain moneylender. One owed him five hundred denarii, and the other fifty. 42 Neither of them had the money to pay him back, so he canceled the debts of b...