And the voting is complete!!!

And the voting is complete. It was a tight race with Peter leading around turn number four. But in a certain burst of speed and last leg momentum, Pastor Pat nosed out Peter by just one vote. What a photo finish!

Be sure to vote!!

Be sure to vote in my new highly sophisticated survey of the greatest preacher of all time. Don't be scared. Go ahead. Vote!

Blessed!

It's been a while since I posted a few comments. Sorry for the delay. Things get a little busy.. ok, alot busy and I find myself out of hours and stuff still left to do.

I am a blessed to have a good job, even though it is very demanding. I am blessed to have such a wonderful wife who is not. I have the best kids in the world. I know I am a little subjective about that but I wouldn't trade any of them. They are great.

God is so good to me. The troubles I face are nothing compared to what Christ has done for me. And the best part is, He helps me with my troubles too. Awesome! Stinkin' Awesome!! (Quoting Pastor Todd)

Michael

I sent Michael a care package today. I included mostley snacks like whoppers and beef jerky and small bags of chips from Michael Nair. I also wrote him a letter giving him an update on each member of the family. I miss him alot right now. Maybe its because I know the pain and loneliness he must be feeling because I've felt it before too. If only there was a way to take his place...

High Priest or AWOL

I was listening to James Dobson this morning as I do almost every morning at 5:30 and he had a speaker on that was dealing with Dad's being Dad's. He had a lot of good things to say about our responsibility as fathers. The first half aired today and the second half will air tomorrow.

We are more than willing to step up and be the "king" or "priest" or "pastor" or "boss" at work or church outside the home. But we tend to put less energy into leading our family's. We almost ignore them at times and put the behind work and ministry and volunteering to help others. My toes are sore this morning!

The speaker said that God has called us to demonstrate or "prove" our leadership in the home first - before we "prove" our leadership at church or work or out in the community.

The family is a model of the church with a leader (dad the priest), a board of directors (mom the counselor and in my case the prophetess) and the followers (I have a few more than some). Have we been successful leaders in our home? Have we stepped up with at least the same desire and energy at home as we do at church and work? I can't feel my toes anymore!

The speaker referenced Deut 6 and basically all 43 kings of the old testament. Almost all of the kings, with a few exceptions, were semi-successful at work, but failed at home.

Thank God for godly women who step up and fill our empty shoes - but we can't afford to shirk or slyt our God given responsibilities at home. There is way more at stake than we probably realize!

Dad's Day Out!

Well, my wife and my youngest daughter went out today for some mother / daughter time. That left me and my oldest son at home alone, so...It's not what your thinking!

David and I spent the day out...side. Yeah, thats right. We (I) mowed what part of the lawn needed it. We trimmed the bushes, pulled one out that I didn't like anymore. We sprayed for bag worms (they seem to like my evergreens). We burned the brush pile. We set the sprinkler out and watered the new grass in my backyard. I've worked pretty hard to get it to grow and I don't want it to burn up in the heat. We fixed the sprinkler and the leaky garden hose. (had to do that before we watered). We cleaned off the the front porch. We spayed for wasps and other critters around the back porch...and then we played catch with a softball for about 4 minutes and I was done.

I was soaking wet, tired, hot, so I went in and took a shower and got cleaned up. And then I remembered - I was supposed to go let the horse out in the pasture. So, David and I jumped in the truck and went and let the horse out.

Not a bad day out with my son - just really hot and tiring. But hard work is good, right!

Overtime!

My middle son just called me and told me he was going to be late tonight getting off work. He is helping the masons lay brick on the houses he is helping to build this summer. The masons need to be done today and so he called me and told me they were going to stay untill the brick was done.

He sounded so excited and full of energy, like he just discovered the mother load. He'll get payed time and a half for a few more hours today.

I remember working six tens in Dallas and I don't remember being so excited about the overtime I work. I just remember being really tired.