Give some thanks!

"Feeling gratitude and not expressing it is like wrapping a present and not giving it." --William Arthur Ward.

Happy Thanksgiving!

[ht: Pete Wilson]

Publish Post

What do you worry about?

I am speaking a message this weekend - "Tis the Season Not To Worry." It has nothing to do with Christmas and everything to do with our devotion. (see Matthew 6)

Most of our worries or fears are unfounded but that doesn't make them any less real in our emotions. Jesus has some great stuff to say with regard to our emotions tied to our devotion.

My biggest worry is that I am not or will not be a good husband and dad. I think about it a lot and am constantly giving over to God who knows that all to well about me.

What's your biggest worry these days? Come on ... share it!

Time Warp

Yesterday, my brother and I drive to Riverside to be with my dad for his surgery this morning. My sister Jaime came from San Diego. As we ate dinner last night, my mom cooked one of our old favorites - Pepper Pie - and we enjoyed hanging out and reminiscing.

As we sat that I felt a bit in a time warp. Mom, Dad, Jaime, Tony, and me were together for the first time (without our individual families) since 1988. 20 years! Man it was wild. We had fun and talked about stuff growing up. We laughed a lot.

If you haven't talked to your family members recently ... give them a call or get together with them.

NOTE: My pictures are having trouble uploading. Will do some later.

Blue Like Jazz ... the movie

I heard yesterday that BLJ will be coming out in movie form. If you have yet to read the book...read it before the movie comes out.
The book is always better than the movie (see The Firm, Misery, Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants - Ok, I didn't read that one!).

I enjoy Don Miller and his writing. I used to like Steve Taylor and his music. Let's see if this combo comes out like a Reece's Peanut Butter Cup!

Here is a little clip to set us up!

[ht: Steve Murphy]

What in the world?

Since my trip to the Harley store, I so in to bikes ... haha
Caption Please ....

Telling it like it is

At the airport my wife over heard a page for someone with the last name Jennings.

Melissa: "That was my last name when I was a little girl. And when I married daddy I changed my last name."

Gigi: "To Mom?"

That Guy!

This video has been seen a bizillion times but I thought it creative and funny. Check it out. (it's about 3 min.)

Operation Christmas Child

The Crossroads is participating in Operation Christmas Child. Since 1963 Operation Christmas Child has brought joy and hope to children in desperate situations around the world through gift-filled shoe boxes and the Good News of God’s love.

While drinking a cup o' joe this morning I saw a cool plug on the TODAY show! Check out the sign behind Daniel Craig.



The collection of the shoe boxes will be this weekend November 16 at The Crossroads.

A beautiful day in the neighborhood

I am not a rider but if I were ... I'd hang out here. A lot! Buddy Stubbs Harley Davidson opened next door to our offices yesterday. While I was there, I ran into my friend Russell and his buddy.

Check out the gynormous fan!

Rest for the weary soul

I read a great reminder for those of us who may be experiencing pain in life these days - self inflicted or not. Pain hurts! Going through stuff hurts and causes us to be restless at times.

Here is my reminder found in Matthew 11:28:

28-30"Are you tired? Worn out? Burned out on religion? Come to me. Get away with me and you'll recover your life. I'll show you how to take a real rest. Walk with me and work with me—watch how I do it. Learn the unforced rhythms of grace. I won't lay anything heavy or ill-fitting on you. Keep company with me and you'll learn to live freely and lightly." [The Message]

I like that. That's comforting. I need to learn His unforced rhythms of grace.

Are worn out by life?

Advent .... Conspiracy (and other ways to give)

We heard about this last Christmas and participated a bit. This year we want to do more. (the video is about 2 min). Check it out.


God loved ... He gave. I just don't want to give stuff! We've been really doing our best to buyless and live/give more! Here are some of the ways we've pursued to be less consumer driven.

BuyinglessLivingMore
Junky Car Club
FPU
Couponing

What ways have you been able to manage money a little better?

Curly Cutey

Sponge curlers doing their thing. Gigi liked the result!

How long has it been since you've enjoyed a good haircut/grooming or make over?

I think she likes 'em

First time in sponge curlers ... it's gonna be cute!

Veteran's Day Parade

We watched our community's annual Veteran's Day Parade today. We enjoyed seeing people in our community in the parade.

It's not everyday that one gets to see a camel ... twenty feet away. Or Elvis for that matter!

I like that about our community!

Trust

Yesterday had coffee with a friend of mine. He is one of those people who is full of integrity and who truly wants to use his gifts to benefit God's kingdom. He recently wrote this based on recent developments in his life.

Vulnerability + trust = order. Vulnerability - trust = chaos. It is interesting that both order and chaos have vulnerability in common. The difference is the issue of trust.

I trust Christ and my hope for any sense of order in the future is directly dependent on my trust in him and his way of living life. Without it I will be at the mercy of chaotic, empty promises and fear filled men.

Trust is the only way to clothe the nakedness of vulnerability. It is a fantasy for me to believe that I can get somewhere in life and never be vulnerable. Trust is the answer - believe me. I know.

Words to live by ... Thanks Rodderick!

[This is based on Genesis 1 through 3]

Historic Election Thoughts

Here are a few of my thoughts after a long and historical election season.

:: Change is never something most humans embrace. Not sure what changes will take place with new Presidential administration but I do expect and will not be surprised by them.

:: "When we are no longer able to change a situation, we are challenged to change ourselves." ~Victor Frankl

:: Sarah Palin is good for politics...I expect her to get a lot of experience over the next four years.

:: Barack Obama gave a great acceptance speech. Equally, John McCain's was gracious and sincere. I wanted them to remember this day, so I asked my boys to watch McCain's speech with us - They were asleep when Obama spoke.

:: Although Obama's ideology may be hard to embrace for some conservatives, booing and hissing (whining) via Facebook/Twitter about those points of difference is tactless [ht: Scott Harris]. If one feels passionate about a matter ... be an agent of change for that matter. Don't complain.

:: I understand taxes will probably raise. Not thrilled. I understand that there will be Democratic control of the big three (Executive, Judicial, and Legislative branches) ... not thrilled - no party should have that much control.

:: I think conservatives should give the same support that they would want democrats to give, especially if the election turned out differently. Just thinking out loud here.

:: "Remember not only to say the right thing in the right place, but far more difficult still, to leave unsaid the wrong thing at the tempting moment." - Ben Franklin

:: 2 Chronicles 7:14 - election or no election. If you are a Christ-follower, here is a good post to read.

What ONE thing will you remember most about this election?