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

Tuesdays are my TV watching nights. I try to catch NCIS and House . NCIS was a repeat and I missed most of it picking up some groceries - the cats and me kinda get hungry on occasion. Did, however, watch House last night. Anyone else catch this episode? If you didn't House treats a girl who has been raped. She is very determined to keep the child. Dr. House wants her to terminate the pregnancy. At the end of the show they have a really good and honest conversation in the park. During which we find out she believes in eternity. He doesn't. The next scene is House playing foosball with his friend Dr. Wilson when House's boss, Dr. Cuddy, walks in to which House informs her that Eve - the rape victim - terminated her pregnancy and went home. OK, admittedly what I have shared is but a brief summary of the situation, but here's my question, How did Eve, who was so adamant about keeping her child, make the quick and seemingly easy leap to abort the child? I'm s...

FOXnews reported that my dream car - a Shelby Cobra with 427 c.i. engine - went for $5.5 million. This was a special version it had 800 hp. Now that's fast! Guess I'll have to keep saving my pennies, eh? This wasn't the most ever paid for a car, but it was the most ever paid for an American-made car. Here's a peak at what it looks like. I can only imagine how fast I could get back to Texas on a trip with this thing. Mike

Mark it down folks - it's in the books - the first ride of 2007. Yeah. . .yeah. . .yeah. . .I know I'm behind, but I'll do my best to make it up, even if it's on trainer. Now that my toes are thawed out I'm going to take a hot bath, grab some lunch and head to the local bike shop. Have a great weekend! Mike

Today - actually this week - I begin my training for the Hotter-n-Hell 100 in Wichita Falls, Texas. It's scheduled for Saturday, August 25th. It's called the Hotter-n-Hell for a reason - in August it's hotter than hell. I was there last July teaching at Camp Chaparral. On Tuesday it was 104 degrees at 11:00 am. So go figure. I have ridden it once before, but because of the incredible weather we had - it never got over 80 degrees due to a cool front blowing in over night - it was just a really good 100 mile bike ride with a lot of good friends. The last time I rode it - 2004 - I rode with the gang - Angelina Bike Club . They're a great group who know how to push you and get you ready. This year I am planning on riding with my buddy, Gene , from Plano, Texas. Gene is a monster when it comes to distance running and riding. He runs marathons, ultra-trail runs, rides bikes like a hammer head and he's got a new bike! Sooooo. . .I'm a little behind. Well, not...

This has to be a policeman's dream come true - caffeinated doughnuts! Read about it here .

Received this from a friend of mine. Had to post it. January - Took new scarf back to store because it was too tight. February - Fired from pharmacy job for failing to print labels...Helllloooo!!!....Bottles won't fit in the typewriter!!! March - Got really excited...finished jigsaw puzzle in 6 months.....box said "2-4 years!" April - Trapped on escalator for hours.... the power went out!!! May - Tried to make Kool-Aid.....wrong instructions...8 cups of water won't fit into those little packets!!! June - Tried to go water skiing.....couldn't find a lake with a slope. July - Lost breast stroke swimming competition.....learned later that the other swimmers cheated; they used their arms!!! August - Got locked out of my car in rain storm.....car swamped because soft-top was open. September - The capital of California is "C".....isn't it??...

Got a call from my brother, Jerry, on Monday. The conversation went something like this. JT - " Mom's in the emergency room." Me - " What's going on?" JT - "She fell at work and broke her hip." Me - "Do what?" (This is supposed to only happen to old people - not my mom) JT - "Yeah, she called me and I asked if she wanted me and Dad to come pick her up?" Me - "And. . . " JT - "She drove herself to the hospital." OK - here's the thing, the hospital was about 20-25 miles from her office. My mother broke her hip, went back to her desk to work, then drove herself to the hospital! Now that's stinkin' tough, no matter how you slice! I always knew that raising 3 boys made her tough. I also knew she was tough when she was the quarterback on an all-women's tackle football team (I was in the 8th grade - she wasn't exactly a spring chicken then either). But this is freakin' ridiculous! Spoke...

Matthew 14:13-14 As soon as Jesus heard the news, he left in a boat to a remote area to be alone. But the crowds heard where he was headed and followed on foot from many towns. Jesus saw the huge crowd as he stepped from the boat, and he had compassion on them and healed their sick. I know I shouldn't be, but I am still amazed at the heart of Jesus. Know what I mean? Here is Jesus - 100% human - just hearing the news that his cousin, John the Baptist, had been beheaded by some jerk of a ruler who was more concerned about saving face with his dinner guests, than doing what was right. Jesus wanted, and probably needed, some time alone - to mourn, grieve, and to pray. Yet, when he saw the crowd following Him, Matthew noted his compassion for the them. So what did He do? He ministered to their need. Not just their spiritual needs, but their physical needs as well - He fed over 5,000 men, women, and children (a number probably in the 10s-20 thousands). What an example for you an...

The staff at North Mobile is encouraging our members to join us in reading through the New Testament this year. Some of us are reading through the entire Bible. If you would like to join us go to our web site at www.fbnm.org and click on the passages for the Daily Scripture Reading. Oh, and while you're there, check out the new look of our web site. Thanks to the work of our Pastor and staff it's been re-designed to fit our new strategy. Let me know what you think. As I was reading Genesis 1 , I noticed (verse 3) that God makes the light on the first day. But, it's not until the fourth day (verses 14-19) that He creates the sun and the moon. So if the light created on the first day wasn't from the sun, what was the source of the light? And not only did it not come from the sun, but it was separate from the darkness. So we have separate light and darkness without any source. The darkness I can attribute to the absence of light. It exists because there is no l...

As much as I would like to think it isn't . . . it is. Nick Saban is leaving the Miami Dauphins for the Alabama Crimson Tide . This after he vehemently denied being interested in the job. Hmmm. . .sounds like Pat Forde of ESPN.com has it right. Read Pat's story here . Just something to think about. Mike

Happy New Year! Who came up with that phrase? I said it the other day at church and it struck me funny. Isn't my happiness based on circumstances - I'm happy 'till I slam my finger in the door. Ain't happy any more. So how long do you think most people will be happy? Are they happy until they begin getting the bills from Christmas? Are they happy until the beer runs out or their favorite football team looses? Are they happy until they have to go back to work? Are they happy until they realize that the guests they have been hosting has out-stayed their welcome? Being a believer, I rest in my joy. For my joy is internal and eternal. My joy is founded in my relationship with Jesus Christ. And if He will never leave me, nor forsake me, then I know I can never loose my joy. It's not circumstantial. This got me to thinking. . . hmmmmm. And I am now on a campaign to change Happy New Year to Joyous New Year! Maybe it will stick, maybe it won't. Regardle...

Are you one of those people who make New Year's resolutions? I used to. . .don't any more. Now I make goals. Goals give me something to shoot for. Goals serves as a check to see if I'm on course. I kinda laugh at the responses I get when I ask people what their goals, resolutions, etc. are for the new year. I really like this one, " I want to be a better Christian. " What in the world does that mean? You're going to do things "better"? You're going to read your Bible - better? You're gong to share the gospel - better? You're going to pray - better? You're going to love your neighbor - better? Hey! Here's a news flash - just be the Christian God always wanted you to be in the first place!! That will be different. That will be "better." Actually get up and spend time with God. For some, tell someone about the change God has made in your life. Take some intentional time to talk with - not to God (with = list...

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...