Thoughts of a Modern Day Caveman

Ghosts Upon the Earth

2011-09-22T06:42:00.000-07:00

Last night I had the pleasure of seeing my favorite band live for the second time. Gungor is a band hard to classify as any genre, yet it is deeply rooted in Christianity and their music is an ode to the Christ follower in every sense.

I saw them first, last year in Franklin, Tennessee with a group of guys from church and everyone of us left a fan. I do think many people won't get what they are about without seeing them live. The music is so diverse as 14 or more musicians blend blues, bluegrass, classical, and funk into a melody so sweet that literally anyone can be soothed, moved and comforted by hearing it.

The visuals in the video and light production is every bit a part of the presentation as the music. It sets the mood, the tone, and the perspective of the composers core. When I say composer I am referring to Michael Gungor. He is a master of his craft and he leads his band with love and precision to create what is nothing short of amazing musically. The percussion is demanding and complimentary to every string of every instrument. The audience is mesmerized as if their ears are touched by the velvet wings of angels. Vocally Michael Gungor has a silky smooth and vulnerable falsetto that is mesmerizing and he is complimented by his wife Lisa who's angelic voice is sweet, haunting and unforgettable.

I was accompanied by my friend Eric and his wife Alisha who were not as familiar with Gungor. On the way down we listened to the new album, "Ghosts Upon the Earth". Their reaction was that it was "OK" and they were puzzled by why I am so nutso about this music. I must admit that I wasn't sure if I liked this new album as much as "Beautiful Things". Before the end of the opening song they understood and immediately they were captivated and I fell in love all over again. It also helped me understand why I liked it so much. You really must see them live. I have seen many concerts in many genres of music and there is NONE I would rather see than Gungor. Yes, it's that good.

"Ghosts Upon the Earth" is a journey through the scripture. It should be listened to as a whole. It is the Christian equivalent to Pink Floyd "The Wall". I think if you found a hammock to lie in on a comfortable breezy day and listened to this album from front to back that you could literally experience a morsel of heaven. It is not only some of the best music live ever but it is one of the best worship services you can attend. You certainly don't have to be a Christian to love this group, but if you are a Christian you will certainly feel the presence of God. The love this band has for Christ is undeniable. They are IN LOVE with God and because of it they make you fall in love with them.

You can find tour info for Gungor here. Go see them and you will never be the same.

If there is "Elevator" or "Hold" music in Heaven, I bet it's playing "Ghosts Upon the Earth" today.

Devastated

2011-09-13T06:54:00.000-07:00

I've been reading a lot about Georgia's football program this week. Many in the media are asking the question of when did the program go south and what started it. There were several good answers. For the most part they hold true. The loss of Van Gorder as Defensive Coordinator, Richt turned play calling over to Bobo, loss of physical players at the line of scrimmage, etc.

I want to lay out one thing that I see wrong and I'll describe it with an example.

Saturday evening right before Murray fumbled to give up a SC defensive touchdown the camera panned the Georgia sideline after SC had just scored on offense to take the LEAD. Our offense was about to take the field again and the camera settled on our O-line. They were on the sideline smiling and hamming it up a bit. Suddenly Richt appears and looks them each in the eye and says "DO YOUR JOB". Each of them nodded in confirmation as they cleared their faces of smiles and smirks. As they took the field I felt good because I saw Richt doing some direct and intentional coaching. He called his guys out directly. On the first play from scrimmage on that drive, two defensive linemen broke through our defenses seemingly untouched. Crowell was left alone to protect his quarterback and slowed down one of the two. SC's Clowney however was free to have Murray for dinner and he did. Murray didn't handle the situation well. He didn't protect the ball at all and we gave SC another Touchdown. There is a lot wrong with that scenario. The biggest problem to me is that we have players that don't mind losing.

I didn't have the size to play ball at this level. But I did have the privilege of playing for one of this states winning-est programs. Winning meant something to us. Strangely enough, losing meant more. We didn't know how to cope with losing. We won 95% of the time so when we did lose we didn't take it well, coaches or players. I can tell you this: if the other team had just scored on us I'd like to have seen someone on our sideline smiling so I could clean their clock. I would have laid them out on our own sideline and not a darn soul would have said a thing to me about it. ESPECIALLY if we just lost the lead when that team scored. Losing was absolutely devastating. It is NOT OK to lose. It is NOT OK to enjoy yourself in losing. A winning team should be unified in the agony of defeat. I'm not even a player on this Georgia team and it takes me days before I can even talk about it. I think a lot of this Georgia team is OK with losing.

When I see the players post on twitter the next day it is evident to me that some are devastated and some are not phased by a loss. Not surprisingly it seems to be the new guys that are used to winning that are the most devastated. So I would ask coach Richt why aren't we devastated? I don't want to hear that you're working really hard to get better. I think we are already good enough. The gut wrenching agony of defeat should fuel determination to prevent that pain from returning EVER! I think we lack the heart, the desire, and the determination to do what it takes to win. We lack the will to "not lose". Ben Jones sir, you're the big nasty on our offensive line. Why were Dallas and others grinning on the sideline after the opponents score. What could possibly make a Georgia player smile after that. Why are your team mates talking about nonsense and foolery on twitter? Why isn't our team devastated. As a friend of mine put it so well Sunday afternoon, "Why is this team so content with snatching defeat from the jaws of victory?"

Understand that I bleed red and black. I was born that way and will die that way but I call it like I see it. Unlike the image above I don't want to get used to it. I don't want our players getting used to it. I want us to be devastated by it and use that as our fuel not to get better, but to BE better. That is all we need!

I am devastated. Are you?

The Ox Is In The Ditch

2011-09-08T07:12:00.000-07:00

It has taken me all week to get past the pain of the Boise State game to even think about putting some thoughts down in a post. I will lay out my thoughts of the Game in hindsight and moving forward into this weekend and beyond.

First lets look at last weeks game. What we saw in it's purest form is a team prepared to play and a team not prepared to play. Obviously we were the latter. We started out in a fashion that made me feel great, especially on defense, that the hype of the summer was legit. Then the offense exploded with the big play by Boykin. as awesome as that was it was quick and put our defense right back on the field and Boise continued to manage the field position battle and the time of possession. Our Bigger, Faster and stronger didn't stack up to the methodical, strategic and fundamental approach of Boise. Ogletree went down and the defense quickly began to lose traction. We were owned by a prepared offensive entity.

Our offensive line is the root cause of our offensive woes. We were manhandles by a smaller but disciplined defensive front. Their no huddle was quick and merciless. Ours looked like an open field huddle as we had to look to the sideline for instructions for every play once the defense lined up. Murray overthrew the receiver several times. Several passes were dropped. They were WELL coached. We, in my opinion, were not.

There were some bright spots. Boykin played with the heart that I wish the rest of the team would play with. Our young guys played great, including Crowell, who just needs somebody to block and open a hole.

I love this team. I love Mark Richt. However I have been in a funk of depression all week because we NEVER play to our potential. Things don't look good right now going into the South Carolina game. With the loss to Boise we have been exposed to several weaknesses. I never realized how fragile we are in depth in several areas, particularly Inside LB. We will potentially start a 210 lb walk-on that was cut from the team last year. That sound pretty darn desperate to me.

When I see the players on twitter they sound like losing is not a big deal. I know what it feels like for a winning team to lose and it's devastating. I want these guys to be devastated and move forward with that energy to get better. I don't care for the "oh well we will work harder" spill. It takes more than hard work.

Here's the skinny: Richt and staff have to coach UP this week. We have young and inexperienced players going up against upperclassmen with good experience. They are physical. We are loaded with talent but it won't get us anywhere if our team doesn't play with heart. We didn't play with heart last week. We didn't play with heart last year. The same ol gameplan will not work Saturday. It's time to GATA! If we don't we must end this and not waste time doing so.

I'm going to say a prayer for my Georgia bulldogs. I pray that they dig down deep. They grasp their hearts, and that the Lord will make them mighty. I don't mind losing if I felt like we were doing all we can. Leave it all on the field boys. Be champions in your heart. Your coach needs this. The Bulldog Nation needs this.
The Ox is in the ditch boys. Get down in there and push him out.....ALL of you.

Go Dawgs!

By the Way - Vols Suck!!

Things That Make Me Medicate

2011-08-30T06:39:00.000-07:00

Driving to work this morning I was reminded of several things in life that are obvious contributors to my anxiety. I thought it might be good to list some of those things here although I won't be able to go into the details of some of the more severe instigators.

During the last 10 years or so of my fathers life, I saw evidence of my fathers irritability getting more severe and the triggers sometimes seemed to be small stuff. I never understood his behavior as it manifested itself as anger, rage at times and even hatefulness which is not at all what my father was about. As I am getting older I am starting to experience some of those characteristics and with understanding and logic I am able to cope with it along with some meds. Most importantly I can feel it coming on and address it up front.

Today I'm going to talk about some of the obvious triggers for me:

Inconsiderate driving - Things such as failure to comply with the "Slower Traffic Keep Right" rule. I've ranted a couple times in this blog about this so I won't delve into it in any detail here today. In addition when one slowly pulls into 3 lanes of traffic into the lane with the fastest moving traffic. If someone has to slam on the brakes because of you doing this you're a jerk, particularly as you are talking on your cell phone without a care in the world for what you just did. There are people that will just as soon slap you for that as look at you. Now everyone makes a mistake driving from time to time including Moi but when I do I tend to at least acknowledge an apology with a hand up as I mouth the word "sorry". There IS a difference between inconsiderate and mistaken.

Unbridled Stupidity - Once again people do stupid things including myself. However, I think most people tend to learn from their mistakes. George Santayana is credited with one of the most simple but true statements: "Those Who Forget History Are Doomed to Repeat It". I can't go into any detail here because this applies VERY often to people I care about. I can't stand to see people do the same stupid stuff over and over again. What cooks my goose even more is when these people are so clueless that the actions are handed down to their children that make the same mistakes as though it is acceptable. Obviously, the kids are my big concern here and this one more than anything just tears me apart. I'm sitting here gritting my teeth as I write this. When my wife and I have discussions about these folks I have to ask her to stop talking and change the subject because it drives me ape........well you know where I'm going with that. This also applies to people in the workplace. I'm no rocket scientist but I get by on simplicity and common sense. On a DISC Profile I am an extreme high "D". I think knowing I am a high "D" also helps me understand that I have a low tolerance for stupidity.

Stress Mirrors - sometimes the stress of others is mirrored onto myself. This is particularly true of my wife. She's an awesome gal and when she gets stressed it sends me into a tailspin. Not much can be done here for stress is a part of life and we have to cope with it. Still, understanding how this effects me helps me deal with it.

Politics - This one goes hand in hand with the second bullet but warrants it's own mention because it is so specific. I despise politicians. These are not the kind of people we can trust to run our country or particularly turn our nation back over on it's feet as we are currently in a pickle. Historically I have been a Republican but the reality of today is that I despise what they have become almost as much as Democratic leadership. Republicans care about the empowerment of the Republican party, Democrats care about the empowerment of the Democratic party and NO ONE cares about the betterment of The USA. We as a nation tend to pick one side or the other and divide our nation. We are MORONS! We need a PATRIOT party that's ONLY concern is to restore our country and it's core values. Core values to me INCLUDE bringing God and Country back together. Here is how you fix our country AND our economy: First you instate the flat sales tax. This means a larger sales tax but no income tax. This way illegal aliens, drug dealers, unethical big business owners and everyone else is paying taxes and doing their part. We can't get this passed through now because those that vote on it aren't paying their fair share( or their constituents are not) and don't want to. This alone would give us cash flow to run our government and work on that deficit a bit. Second, I would start a Federal Lottery where ALL proceeds would go toward the deficit and to reinforce social security( baby boomers are about to milk that bad boy DRY!!). Third, get gasoline to $1.80 and leave it there using OUR oil while getting focus on alternative fuel resources such as hydrogen. At the same time create the future infrastructure of our oil business to use remaining oil to produce polymers we need to make plastics, etc and save as many jobs in the oil industry as possible. STOP LETTING OIL COMPANIES RUN OUR COUNTRY! ECONOMY FIXED!! Fourth, we should stop being world police and only address real threats to our nations security. Love the world and aid in disaster but quit with the free security services. Now what kind of politician speaks like this?? NONE!! A Patriot does though. A President cannot dig us out of this hole folks, it takes a nation and that means YOU! I want to vote for something other than Republican or Democratic. Can somebody show me my mark?

That is all. I'm going to take a pill now.

This weekend UGA plays Boise in the opener and we have a lot to prove. I say we do it big time. GATA!! Go DAWGS!!!

College Football is ALMOST HERE!!

2011-08-18T07:39:00.000-07:00

I'm pretty exited about the coming football season as my expectations for UGA are perhaps overly optimistic. Nevertheless, I have a special feeling about our upcoming season. As I have said before, our players have turned into men in just a few short months.

This season I'll be doing something a little unorthodox. Living close to our great states northern border, the UT Vol rivalry is a pretty big thing. Vol fans are faithful and clueless but when things go their way, there's not a more difficult bunch to live with.

Recently I ran across an old Vol fan who is a pretty good representation of what they are all about. I'll be sharing with you his weekly SEC Absurd Gameday Predictions for your entertainment. Here is a small sampling of what is to come. GO DAWGS!! GATA!!

And a reminder to any Vol fans that might happen upon this BLOG!

Almost Time - Sic Em!

2011-07-28T12:02:00.000-07:00

It has been a long off season for UGA football fans. 2010 ended as a reflection of what it was: a disapointing summary of a less that expected effort. In short it was nothing beyond disgusting. Most called for Mark Richts head and at times, so did I. And for good reason. I like Coach Richt a LOT!! I just like winning better. I don't mind so much getting beat by a better team. But I despise getting beat by an inferior team.

This has become a trend over the years even reaching back before Mark Richt. In particular, we tend to start the year off out of shape and sloppy. Bad stupid sloppy! This is the ONLY reason the Cocks have put up wins on us in the last decade including last year. Yes I said it. Last years Dawgs were better than last years Cocks!! And so on and so on. This year is no different.

I like what I hear out of Athens with our strength and conditioning as I think this is KEY to get to where we need to be. That along with execution puts us in a position to be undefeated this year. I don't think that's absurd at all. If we go 2-0 the nation better look out. If we win one of the two I'll be disappointed but it will probably start a season good enough to save Richt another year. I expect great things this year. I like what Richt is doing. I like what the players are saying on twitter. I think we are mentally and physically a different bunch. Summer Camp hasn't started yet but here comes my prediction for game 1. I think the UGA DAWGS are going to whip the living bronco dung out of Boise State much as we did Shockley's last year. College Game Day will wrap up going "Oh My God !! Who is this Georgia team??" Mark my words......The Junk Yard Dogs are back!

Firecrackers and Bones

2011-07-05T06:15:00.000-07:00

The Fourth of July is always special to me in my neighborhood. It takes me back to my childhood when kids could play in the streets after dark in the summer. Fireflies and spitball fights reigned supreme in my activities at night and my days we spent in the pool, lunching on PB&J with Kool-aid. No worries right? Very similar at my house. A culdesac street with sidewalks and the high school just up the road. The high school is where the fireworks are every year and for such a small town, it is usually quite the show.

Traditionally we walk to the high school area and unfold blankets, lawn chairs and a cooler and just relax, watch people and wait for it to get dark for the show. We then have a short walk back to the house afterwards and don't have to grind it out in all the traffic like most others do. When we get home, Zeke (my black lab) is usually in rare form and is completely freaked out by the fireworks. He will always tear the gate to the backyard down and be waiting trembling on the front porch. There's no getting him back in the fence for the night as the neighborhood stays alive with firecrackers and bottle rockets long after I've gone to bed. He acts mad at me as if I had something to do with it. I think he usually tends to be forgiving when he gets the bones from the BBQ ribs afterwards. Nevertheless, there is no mule gate man made that will hold that dog during fireworks or a thunder storm.

Unfortunately, the fireworks this year didn't have the same ring to them. Zeke is 14 years old and not doing well this year. Friday, July, 1st, I drove him to the vet for what would be his last journey and had him put to rest. I hugged his neck and looked him in the eye as he took his last breath and his massive frame collapsed to the floor. It's such a hard thing to do. The hardest part is wondering what they are thinking of you as it's happening. This was the most gentle dog I have ever encountered. We couldn't stand to see him suffer any longer. I hope he understood and it's what he would have wanted.

Saturday night when we got home after the fireworks , the porch was vacant and for the first time in 14 years, the rib bones went in the garbage can. Goodbye Zeke, my loyal friend. We love you and miss you.

Run for God, run with dog, Redux

2011-06-22T06:58:00.000-07:00

A few months back I had a post about Run for God in which I was pretty enthusiastic about running and possibly not quite humble enough. During my second week or so, I sustained an injury or two that I had problems overcoming while continuing to run, therefore I stopped until I could heal up and start again. I watched my Run for God class move on and eventually run a 5K in the end. I was very disappointed that I didn't finish that. Nevertheless, I'm starting over with week one.

I've always said there's no way I'm going to run in the heat of summer. The other night at 7:30 PM it was 96 degrees and I ran. I'm going to let God push me this time. I'm just no good when I push myself. I was reminded of his presence this morning as I ran.

I started out just after 6 am. I made a peanut butter and sugar free jelly sandwich on double fiber wheat bread and started a brisk walk as I ate my breakfast. I recently got an iPhone and use the Nike+ app as I run, which measures my route and pace. In addition, it allows me to listen to my music playlist as I run. With my earbuds in I set out and occasionally look back to make sure my dog Zeke isn't following me. As I rounded the corner I could still see him on the porch, out of sight, out of mind.

After 5 minutes of brisk walking and some "Third Day" on the playlist, I start running: One minute running, 1.5 minutes walking, alternating between the two. At about a mile out, "Hells Bells" ends on the playlist and with the silence between songs I hear panting that isn't me and feel hot breath and slobber on the back of my leg. It seems Zeke decided to go for a run after all. I'm pretty sure he knew he had to sneak up on me for me to allow him to go. Nevertheless, halfway across the river we were so I had no option but to grind on.

Zeke is a big black Labrador Retriever. More significantly, he is just a couple months shy of 14 years old. This is a breed with a life expectancy of about 10-11years. He is OLD and we have been very seriously contemplating putting him down because he just doesn't get along well. The summer heat and the winter cold are getting really tough for him and arthritis is finally settled into his hips. Therefore, when I saw, heard and felt him behind me I thought, "Great, I'm going to *Old Yeller* this old boy, this morning, with a heart attack. However, every time I finished a run pace I would look back to check on him and every time he was still hanging in there. He did start to lag behind a bit in the end and as we got close to the house I caught him taking a short cut through the neighbors yard on the corner. What A sight the two of us must have been. After we got home Zeke seemed to be happy to lay on the concrete slab front porch and I went in to get ready for work.

As I reflect on this mornings run I am reminded of God's grace. The company of Zeke reminded me that God determines what is possible. This dog that shouldn't even be alive matched me in a 5K. With that I learn to run at God's pace. He will tell me when to slow down, stop or pick up the pace. He will determine what this old vessel is capable of and I'll come along for the ride.

14 Words

2011-06-01T06:41:00.000-07:00

A couple of weeks ago my daughter Blake had a dance recital at the Northwest Georgia Trade Center. Although surprisingly entertaining and in many cases impressive, it's still a dance recital and unless my daughters on stage I'm not too disappointed in missing an act. During my first trip to the bathroom I saw something interesting as I approached the urinal. It was a statement of sorts, possibly a riddle, that peaked my interest. In addition, it was very neatly placed and written in comparison to other crap house graffiti I have seen throughout the years. Neatly written red letters on a sea-foam green wall with one short phrase: "14 words". It grabbed my curiosity while simultaneously drawing me in with the imagery. With my camera around my neck, I took the opportunity to snap a photo of the interesting composition.

This evening I was going through those photos from the recital and came across the image and once again became curious. "14 words", what does it mean? Perhaps some reference to a bible passage left behind by some presumable religious fanatic? Some sexual reference left behind from a stall jockey? I simply had no idea but I had to find out. Hello Google! What I found out was simply astonishing. This phrase and imagery that I had found so alluring and so interesting meant something I absolutely despise. Wikepedia defined it for me quickly and clearly:

"The Fourteen Words is a phrase used predominantly by white nationalists. It most commonly refers to the 14-word slogan: "We must secure the existence of our people and a future for White Children",^[1] and it can also refer to another 14-word slogan: "Because the beauty of the White Aryan women must not perish from the earth."^[2] Both slogans were coined by David Lane, a member of the white separatist organization The Order. The first slogan was inspired by a statement, 88 words in length, from Volume 1, Chapter 8 of Adolf Hitler's Mein Kampf:"

Holy bat-snot Batman!! I had encountered the most hateful gesture known to mankind in a restroom at my daughters dance recital!

Now on to my rant. I despise racism. I can appreciate an off colored joke aimed at any race including my own, but I cannot tolerate pure hatred or suppression of a race at all. In my honest opinion, the only true solution to racism as we know it today is interracial relationships leading to the the blending of races. Then, when there is only one race, discrimination becomes geographical in itself. We are not a peaceful species and never will be. Right now, there are friends and family members alike steaming a little by what I am saying. They will have to get in line to whoop my tail because the Freemasons are in line first. Racism in today's world is something embraced by ignorant back woods inbred jackass thugs who can't rise above their own pity. They are uneducated, pathetic, unruly, and the prime candidates of the Jerry Springer Show. They are cowards, they are Satan's minions and they exist only to hate. If you're reading this and you fit the bill, I ask that you pray for God to wash this burden away from your heart and soul. Otherwise, I hope your hell surrounds you with the very people you despise.

How does Racism work within a persons heart? Let me tell you how it works on mine. Is it fear? Yes. Is it fear of a certain race? No. It's fear of my own race for the most part. In addition it's fear of my loved ones getting consumed by some of the undesirable cultures of other races.

Let me give you and example of how both can apply to me. Suppose my daughter is starting to date a black gentleman. My first and biggest fear is what will my family and friends think. This is my first thought even before "What kind of a young man is this at heart". Second, I think, "Is my daughter going to become engulfed in the dangerous culture that is so commonly associated and statistically true in black community?" In addition, does my daughter now become the target of racism within my own race. No, I don't fear the black people of our nation. I love them! All I have is fear of racism and a desire for my daughter to be safe. Therefore, I don't become a racist but a coward faced with the fear of what racism can do to my family. Racism will die if we let it. And there are no innocents here as I believe there are more or as many racists in other races as there is my own.

I'll tell you this ( Listen up Mr. KKK ) you cannot be a Christian and a racist.

Let me give you my "14 words":
James 2:4 - have you not then made distinctions among yourselves and become judges with evil thoughts?

I still think this is an interesting image. It just needed a little color. So, to whoever so cleverly wrote that phrase of the urinal wall at the Northwest Georgia Trade Center, God bless you. Yes, God even loves an ignorant backwoods turd such as yourself.

Have we become what we have condemned?

2011-05-02T06:46:00.000-07:00

Flashback with me to September 11, 2001. Do you remember where you were when the World Trade Center was attacked? Do you remember the images you saw? Do remember the images that invoked the various emotions you experienced.? Which image spawned the most rage? Which images made you want to drag the bowels of those responsible down the streets of NYC in protest??

For me, the image that angered me the most were those of the people around the world that were celebrating our misery. I remember seeing children dancing in the streets in celebration of the thousands of American lives taken. I remember the lack of remorse and wondering how anybody could be so thoughtless. I remember wishing I could run over those little dancing bastards in my pick-up truck. I was mad. I had some very unhealthy anger. I didn't have a relationship with Christ at the time.

Now, almost 10 years later we have breaking news during the night that Osama Bin Laden, the mastermind behind those attacks on our nation has been killed and justice has been served. For that I am grateful. I am not proud of how Americans have responded. All over television news I see American dancing and celebrating in the streets chanting "USA....USA....". We don't even look like Americans. We are acting like.......THEM! Where are the American patriots? Where is our class? Where is our Christianity?

My friend Jake "the Bear" McGill put it best today in a Facebook post. He said " As much as it is in our hearts to celebrate, a soul was lost that didn't know Jesus". This is a time for quite reserved celebration of justice. Not a pour into the streets celebration like we just won World Cup Soccer. Much of the southeast US is currently pulling together to assist storm ravaged areas in one of the biggest natural disasters I have ever been witness to. The response is overwhelming as big hearted Americans put life aside to aid those in need. This is the America I am proud of. I am not proud of the disrespectful blood lust I am seeing in response to Bin Laden's death. Am I glad he's dead? Yep. Was Justice served? Partly, yes but there's more to go in what is now and endless struggle for us in the war against terrorism.

I am ashamed of some of our nation today. When did we lose compassion, respect, honor, dignity and the overall appreciation for human life, even the lives of our enemy? Indeed we have become what we have condemned. It makes me a bit sick. There's something to pray about.

Secret Societies, Broken Hearts

2011-04-22T11:52:00.000-07:00

Sometimes my curiosity gets the best of me. Sometimes I have discoveries that I wish I never knew. Sometimes these discoveries make me feel obligated in my responsibilities as a citizen, a father, and most importantly as a Christian.

In my very first post on this Blog I stated the following:

I love people and I never want to offend or hurt anyone. However, understand that I have the potential to do so. I love Jesus, my family, and the Georgia Bulldogs. I am a 42 year old kid and love to play my x-box. If any of these things might offend you in any way, please leave now and know that I'm praying for you.

This is very well likely to be one of those posts and I wouldn't be me if I didn't sling it on out there anyway. So here it goes.

I have often wondered with curiosity about fraternal orders, secret societies and of all things hidden in plain sight. Particularly I have wondered about freemasons because they are everywhere. They are in our workplace, our church and even in our families. I have wondered what they were about, what they did, what they believed in and what their "secrets" were. At the same time something in my heart told me to beware. I'm not going to claim to have discovered the whole truth of all they hold private but I have discovered enough to know that it isn't for me. I hope after reading this you'll decide it isn't for you either. If you're reading this and you are a mason I hope it makes you question why. If you're a mason and you don't believe what I say is correct that is fine as well but I would ask that you ask your own brethren. Ask at a higher degree and test it to disprove it.

Before I sling the guts out of this possum let me tell you how I came upon this information. Twitter - a fantastic social media tool where I simply asked "What the heck are masons about exactly?" I got several answers in reply ranging from "parade shriners" to "old man's club". But one answer revealed what I have not been able to find on Google but confirmed much in what I long suspected. It came from someone who I have never met but online encounters lead me to believe it is a Christian source that let me make my own perception. This person posted a link to a website that gave me the ONLY answers I've been looking for. No, I don't believe everything I read but I have all the evidence I need to know what I read is true. Now it's time for the guts.

You cannot be a freemason and a Christian at the same time.( I'm going to come back and re-phrase this later - That's pretty harsh)

I cannot confirm what is stated on this website is true for all fraternal orders of free masons or any for that matter. However I have has mason current and removed, confirm parts are correct.

I'm going to quote some of what I read on the website:

Question: "What is Free Masonry and what do Free Masons believe?"

Answer: Freemasonry, Eastern Star, and other similar "secret" organizations appear to be harmless fellowship gatherings. Many of them appear to promote belief in God. However, upon closer examination, we find that the only belief requirement is not that one must believe in the True and Living God, but rather, that one must believe in the existence of a “Supreme Being”, which includes the “gods” of Islam, Hinduism, or any other world religion. The unbiblical and anti-Christian beliefs and practices of this organization are partially hidden beneath an outward appearance of a supposed compatibility with the Christian faith.

Salvation from Sin:

The Bible’s View: Jesus became the sinner’s sacrifice before God when He shed His blood and died as the propitiation (payment) for the sins of all those who would ever believe (Ephesians 2:8-9, Romans 5:8, John 3:16).

Mason’s View: The very process of joining the Lodge requires Christians to ignore the exclusivity of Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior. According to Freemasonry, a person will be saved and go to heaven as a result of his good works and personal self-improvement.

MOST importantly I read this:
Mason’s View: There is no exclusivity in Jesus Christ or the Triune God who is the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit; therefore there is no doctrine of the deity of Jesus Christ. It is deemed to be un-Masonic to invoke the name of Jesus when praying, or mention His name in the Lodge. Suggesting that Jesus is the only way to God contradicts the principle of tolerance. The name of Jesus has been omitted from biblical verses that are used in Masonic rituals. Jesus is on the same level as other religious leaders.

This is where some of you reading this are thinking "you can't believe everything you read" and this is true in many cases but you can believe everything you read in the Bible without question. This is tough to swallow when we have friends and family that are masons. Still, I believe much of this to be true.

As far as what I read on this website I offer this as confirmation that some of what is stated may be true:
When I read this I immediately remembered an old friend who revealed many years ago he was a mason when I asked him what the symbol on his ring was. It was the event that started my curiosity years ago. That friend today is a pastor in a Christian church. I immediately thought "how could this be possible?".

I didn't hesitate to text him and here is EXACTLY the conversation we had.

Me: This is Vic - I have a question. Are you still affiliated with the free masons?

Him: No my luv for the Lord will not allow me to.

Me: Praise Jesus! I just read what they teach and it broke my heart.

Moments later he called me and told me to stay away from that. He said he didn't know what he was getting into years ago and when he got saved he found out the truth. He said to tell anybody thinking about it to stay away. He said he would call me later to discuss it further. I look forward to that call this evening. That folks is all the confirmation I need to validate what I read on that website.

I also suspect they support not only a unified god but a unified world government as well. A true sign of the end of times straight out of Revelations. However it will take a mason to confirm that. (not happening)

I remain deeply troubled by this because I have numerous friends and even family that is affiliated with the free masons. Some of them may be reading this now taking great offense to it. Let me be clear that I think Masons are good people doing good deeds. But scripture is clear in Christianity that good deeds don't get you to Heaven. I have no ill will to the free mason, only love. They need saving too!

After posting this if anything should happen to me, my family or the Georgia Bulldogs I ask that you look for blood on the rings of freemasons. Maybe I've seen to many movies about secret societies.

In Christ -
Vic

Same day 6:21 PM

I have indeed ruffled feathers and have had a few contacts, some phone calls from friends and loved ones. In all cases every mason was a gentleman and presented themselves in a respectful manner. Some were however more upset than others. Those closest to me seemingly were hurt the most. I do regret hurting anyone. I don't regret stating my Christian values. Therein is my conflict with this whole matter.

First let me re-phrase what I stated above in a more respectful manner:
"You cannot be a freemason and a Christian at the same time."

I should have said that there is conflict in being a freemason and a Christian at the same time. Offended by this statement or not I do believe that to be true.

Out of the current or ex-masons I spoke with I got an array or reactions and replies. One current lodge member confirmed it is forbidden to refer to Jesus in prayer. One stated it isn't even about what religion you are. Another said most of what the website said was garbage and that free masonry is full of Christians who openly speak of Jesus in prayer . This fellow also acknowledged you can pray to any other deity you wish to pray to openly. I was informed that they believe that Jesus is indeed the son of God yet denied Jesus is Lord(God) I asked a couple to provide me with correct documentation of what exactly their belief is and they could not because is is sacred and secret. There is nothing sacred and Secret in being a Christian and that is why I believe there is a conflict.

What is it to be Christian? It is to follow the teachings of Christ, to be Christ-like, to be a disciple and to SHOUT it from the mountain tops and to the ENDS OF THE EARTH! That is hard to do in a secret fraternal order where it is frowned upon to utter his name in prayer. I was told there are Baptist preachers who are masons(I know) as if that validated a Christian affiliation. I know of Baptist preachers that are anything but Christ like. I grew up Baptist and if I had to go to a Baptist church today I'm not sure I would go to church regularly at all. No- I'm not condemning Baptists as I don't intend to condemn free masonry either. I am trying to try to shed light on Biblical truth supported by scripture. So let me put Christianity at the forefront. That's what a Christ follower does.

Jesus is God in the Holy Trinity. In the great Commission he tells us to shout it out to the world.

Matthew 28 The Great Commission

Then the eleven disciples left for Galilee, going to the mountain where Jesus had told them to go. When they saw him, they worshiped him—but some of them doubted! Jesus came and told his disciples, “I have been given all authority in heaven and on earth. Therefore, go and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit. Teach these new disciples to obey all the commands I have given you. And be sure of this: I am with you always, even to the end of the age.”

Matthew 10 32-33

"When a person stands before other people and says he believes in me, then I will say that person belongs to me. I will say this before my Father in heaven. But when a person stands before people and says he does not believe in me, then I will say that person does not belong to me. I will say this before my Father in heaven."

In closing for now, I want to stress this. I don't intend to condemn free masons but I do believe that in being a freemason you may sacrifice a large part of being a Christian. I don't claim to be the authority on freemasory nor do I know what they hold dear and what the truth is within that secret society. Further through discussions I have had today with masons there are discrepancies from lodge to lodge OR they are not all well informed on what expected practice is within that society from one lodge to the next.

I have said some things that are very unpopular to some freemasons, many of who I love dearly. On this very weekend, Jesus said some things that were very unpopular to Roman society and the Pharisees alike and he was crucified for it. I AM not comparing myself to Christ here but I AM trying to be Christ like. I've said some unpopular things and gotten roasted for it a bit. But what I say is supported by the scripture and it's no secret. If you are a freemason and can openly praise Jesus at your lodge then right on brother praise on. If you are restrained in your worship of Jesus Christ the living God, then you have a very big conflict in being a Christian. I'm not perfect but I am correct here because the Bible tells me so. And I'll shout it to the ends of the earth.

Psalm 71:15
My mouth will tell of your righteous deeds, of your saving acts all day long— though I know not how to relate them all.

Easter Sunday Evening Afterthought 4/24 -

Often when I write an entry here I have a thought, idea, or feeling that I want to get documented as it's fresh on my mind. So I lay this stuff out often without always thinking of lasting impact. Often after a few days I might even reflect back and feel differently. In this case I still stand with what I've already written but I want to add some additional thoughts.

Four years ago I thought I was a good Christian man. I was a good guy who did good things and treated people well. I believed in Jesus, I prayed(every now and then), and I went to church (hardly ever, sometimes years passed before I did). If someone asked my religious beliefs I would tell them without hesitation. ( I believe in God).

The truth is that I knew nothing about being a Christian. I was not a Christ follower. I did nothing to step outside my comfort zone to pray with, to or in front of others. I never read the Bible which is the true document that validates Jesus is God. I never lifted a finger to tell anyone about Christ. I didn't go to church, in fact I hated it and resented those that did. I felt judged. Bible beaters made me sick. I partied......a lot! I used profanity.......a lot! I didn't serve my community at all. I didn't set a good example for youth or anyone else. I was selfish. I was wrong to think I was a Christian.

Why do I say this? Because I do want to give credit where credit is due. Freemasons do set good examples for others. They are generous, help feed the hungry and get help for others. They help heal sick children. They are doing much good in the community. In short, they do many Christ-like things and they are good people. Many of them I suppose are Christians. Many of those that are Christians carry on and don't even consider the conflict I have mentioned mostly because it hasn't been brought to their attention. I strongly suspect ( I stress SUSPECT) that in old south, there are many lodge's where every member is Southern Baptist and they pray to Jesus because they don't have to worry about offending brethren that worship another God. I also know that generally they don't allow the name of Jesus to be spoken during prayer. Neither do our schools. It's frowned upon where many of us work( I still work).

So today I want to add more clarity that each individual must determine how you feel about this secret society. it depends on your walk with Christ and how or if that walk is restrained my freemasonry. If you don't have to sacrifice ANYTHING from your walk with Christ to be a freemason then you don't have a conflict. If you do have to sacrifice anything from your walk with Christ I beg you to consider what your doing and ask yourself where you Christian values are here.

There is another fraternal order I want to mention. It's where I have brothers and sisters that I know (with as much certainty as any secret society ) will rush to my aid if I am in need of assistance. We do every bit of the good deeds that secret societies do. We have times just for the men. we have times just for women. There are no secrets. No one has to wonder about the intent of our purpose. Obviously I'm talking about church and when done right you can't get enough of it. You live it. You're a better person for it. Most importantly, you ALWAYS glorify Christ when you're doing it. I think I am done with this now. I hope it meant something to someone.

Prepare for the losing formula of divorce.

2011-03-28T07:26:00.000-07:00

I write this entry today not to shame anyone who has gone through divorce or those considering it. I will try to tread lightly as to not offend or hurt anyone's feelings but I will speak the truth and sometimes that can be painful. If I cause anyone any grief I apologize in advance but understand that it is not I that brought you grief, just a reminder.

Unfortunately divorce happens. I learned recently that I live in the divorce epicenter. It has become part of our culture and in my opinion it has become way too easy and too acceptable. However each one has it's own set of circumstances and I acknowledge some are warranted. I also proclaim that some are not. I know a little about this subject because I have been through nine divorces. However, I have only been married once and am still happily married thank you Jesus! Yes - I have been through nine divorces through the eyes of a child. I have endured my parents divorces. My wife can say about the same. We are the poster children of dysfunction and by all logic our lives should be a mess. But they are not. Our lives aren't perfect but they are pretty darn good. We turned out pretty good but we did take our bumps and bruises along the way. I was inspired to write this after I spoke with a child whose parents were divorcing. As I looked in his eyes I could feel his pain. As I tried to think of things to say to him to give him some peace, I could only tell him this: "I totally get what you're going through because I've been there and it sucks - I'm sorry". Anything else I say to him is hog wash and he would know it. The thoughts of what goes through a child's mind rushed through me as I too vividly remembered processing it as a child and not being able to make sense of it. Let me tell you what happens inside a child when parents divorce.

A child generally has two parents in our traditional thinking. Generally that marriage consist of the dynamic duo of parenting we call Mom and Dad. However, I believe these two are much more than a duo. Marriage is between two people, Man and Woman. This is God's plan. Yet, marriage is designed to align with another holy relationship: The Blessed Trinity - Father , Son and the Holy Ghost(spirit). Lets consider marriage in that same context: Man, Woman and the Marriage as defined by God.

So if we consider a marriage as a trinity it takes three parts to make it whole. Take any part out and the marriage is dissolved by death. Let's consider the child here because after all that is our subject. The child has three parents in the trinity. In divorce, to a child, it means the death of a parent. Not literally of course but spiritually. To a child that is what it feels like to go through divorce, particularly the first one with primary parents.

The emotions a child goes though in divorce, although different, are not entirely unlike the death of a parent and in some ways can be worse. The biggest factor emotionally is guilt. Some kids may even feel guilt and responsibility for the divorce although that was not the case with me. However, I think ALL children of divorce will suffer unwarranted guilt and there is no means for prevention. They will feel guilt over feeling like they are choosing one parent over the other even when the choice isn't theirs to make. They will feel guilt over seeing their parents suffer through the pain of divorce. They will feel guilt seeing siblings upset. It's just part of straying away from God's plan.

They will feel unwarranted anger. They will be mad at one parent for leaving and the other for not trying harder. They will be mad because the disruption it causes in their life. They will be mad because they are embarrassed. They will be mad because the only thing they can understand is that what you are doing is stupid and selfish even if it isn't. These feelings will happen and again it is the result of straying away from God's plan. The age of a child can have varying effects as can multiple divorces. I will tell you this, even as an adult, when my parents divorced, it had impact on my life because I am still that child. I have had step parents that I loved that are no longer in my life. I have ex-step parents that are still in my life and I still love them today. Still- It's not God's plan.

Other emotional instabilities can be created by divorce as well, however, a happy, healthy child can be raised in a broken marriage. Just know that some degree of damage is done. The risk of a troubled life are greatly increased in a divorce. It is the equivalent of exposing your child to spiritual cigarettes hoping they don't get cancer. If you are a divorcee, I know this is hard to hear if you have children. I'm sorry if it hurts but I won't apologize for saying these things. I will tell you this - "It sucks - I'm sorry". If there is no option but divorce, just be aware of the storm your kids will have to endure. Let them know you understand and that you agree that it sucks. It's OK to point out silver linings and anything positive but don't try to deceive them into thinking things will be better because they will not be. Most importantly make sure they know they are loved.

I thank my Mom and Dad for loving me through the storm.

Letters to Dad

2011-03-23T11:08:00.000-07:00

Dear Dad -
It has been well over two years since we last spoke and a lot has changed since you left to go home. No matter what, I don't think I can get used to the inability to call you every other day. I don't like communicating to you this way at all.

I went fishing with Pops(Ernie), Robbie and Kameron this past weekend and they all send their regards. I think Ernie misses you as much as I do. The weather was awesome but the fish were being stubborn. We caught plenty and should be thankful for that and the time together but I think we all had bigger expectations. I still love to fish as much as ever but it isn't the same when you aren't with us.

Sidney is fifteen now and has her learners license. She gets to drive quite a bit but it still scares the hell out of me and the thought of her going solo scares me even more. She's on the MCHS golf team and seems to really enjoy playing. I wish you could help coach her. I think she can be really good. You would be so proud. I am. More importantly, when she isn't fighting with her sister or mother she's turning into a fine young lady. I don't know that I could ask for more. She does have a boyfriend and yes I keep a shotgun loaded.

Blake is eleven and she is a complex young lady and is growing WAY TOO FAST right now. She is really doing great with dance/gymnastics and I am amazed at all the new stuff she can do. She's had a few issues coping with feelings and anxieties but we are proud of her all the same. We are waiting for her to open up a bit so we can love her even more. When it comes to Blake I often feel like I fall short of loving my kids like you loved Windi and I. I know I love her no less but her actions make me feel like I don't do it enough. I don't think she KNOWS she's loved like I knew I was. Solidifying that understanding is where I feel I fall short.

Carter is growing fast and will soon be four. He's smart, witty and just as much a handful as you last saw him. He has no lack of energy. Only time will tell where his interest lie in the future. For now it's superheros and dinosaurs and I'm OK with that. He also shares my love for video games. I'm OK with that too. It tears me up that he doesn't know you like I do. I can only try to show him the love you would - same as the other two.

Alisha is doing great and you were right when you said I "picked a fine one". She's been a great wife and mother as always. We are both stressing a bit over the buying a car deal right now. Never really did this without your input and involvement and in most every case your help through wholesale. This time we are on our own. We plan on paying cash for Sidney a car and although I suspect you may object we are considering KIA's and Hundai's because the reviews have been so good. Also against what I've been taught in buying a vehicle, I'm considering a new truck rather than buying it used. It's hard not to consider the option with zero % interest hanging over your head. Nevertheless, I grew up in the car business and a salesman has a bad day trying to run me through the gauntlet.

Mom reminds me that I forgot to tell you how much she misses and loves you. She just had hand surgery that's keeping her out of work and all over the rest of us. She didn't make any cake for our fishing trip, probably because of her hand. Since I'm still in weight loss mode, I was thankful for that. She drove to a woman's conference this past weekend which is a sign she is feeling much better. Pops says that means she can start doing the cooking again. We'll just have to see how that goes. I suspect Pops will be wearing an apron for a few more weeks.

My walk with Christ has never been stronger. Yea, I may say an unsavory word or statement every now and then but there is no denying I'm serving the Lord and hard at it. I'm also loving every minute of it. So I guess you could say everything is going well aside from the fact you aren't here. I love you and miss you and really wish we could just go fishing. That will likely be a while however. Cancer sucks and I feel like I've waited long enough now to talk to you. What a bunch of horse shit that I cannot!

Until then keep the boat gassed up and the bait bucket full.

Love you Dad -
Vic

Pushing the Christian buttons - The Adjustment Bureau

2011-03-07T11:26:00.000-08:00

Ah....... Saturday night........ even better, date night with the wife! After a nice meal, my wife and I set out to take in a movie.<iframe src="http://rcm.amazon.com/e/cm?t=though04-20&o=1&p=8&l=bpl&asins=B003JTHBVU&fc1=000000&IS2=1&lt1=_blank&m=amazon&lc1=0000FF&bc1=000000&bg1=FFFFFF&f=ifr" style="padding-top: 5px; width: 131px; height: 245px; padding-right: 10px;" marginwidth="0" marginheight="0" scrolling="no" align="left" frameborder="0"> It isn't often we get to have "alone" time with three kids. I'm sure anyone with kids knows what a treasure date night is.

Nevertheless, with the time of arrival and desired movie choices, the obvious pick for us was The Adjustment Bureau. From the previews it looked like a nice thriller and appropriate for what the wife and I enjoy for a date movie. Also from the previews one is given the impression that it is about some government agency that intervenes in the happenings of an individuals life. In particular, the life of the character played by Matt Damon in the movie. The impression you're given is partially right. Someone is certainly intervening into our lives but it isn't the Government. As a Christian, I struggled with the magnitude of the movie at its core for nearly the entire movie. Before I get into why, let me give you a SPOILER ALERT now. I simply cannot write what I need to say here otherwise.

Damon plays the title character David Norris, a playboy US Congressman from New York who loses his bid for Senate as the movie opens. On this election night as he prepares his speech to concede in what he thinks is an unoccupied men's room, he meets the character Elise and almost immediately falls in love. It was a short introduction as they are interrupted from a kiss by Norris's campaign manager. In the interuption, Elise scurries away as David is pulled away for his speech. Although they exchanged a kiss, David never caught her name.

By chance, a few weeks later they meet again on a bus. This is where the "adjustment bureau" comes in as this meeting was never meant to take place. At this time I have to identify what the "adjustment bureau" is. They are the minions of God. Some might refer to them as angels but they don't call themselves that and God is referred to as "the chairman". They are "agents" if you will. Their purpose is to ensure the chairman's plan is carried out and if the plan is interrupted or gets off course, the agents interfere to make "adjustments".

The second meeting of David and Elise was never supposed to happen but it did because an agent fell asleep and missed his cue to interfere by spilling coffee on David, sending him to the dry cleaners rather than the bus. With that, David not only met Elise and obtained a phone number but also arrived to work on time as agents had frozen time and were making head adjustments to Davids campaign manager/law firm partner. This is where the agents came clean and revealed the truth to David only to threaten wiping his mind clean of everything if he uttered a work or tried to pursue Elise, who he never should have met.

By chance, a few years later the couple meet again by astronomical odds. The chemistry between the two is undeniable and the tormented love story begins. The viewer is led to pull for the couple to get together. The villain keeping them apart is none other than the chairman. None other than God! As a Christian and as a sinner we are always tempted through sin to stray from Gods plan, yet I struggled with the magnitude of God being the kingpin bad guy here. In addition, I know that when God reveals himself to you it never leaves you in misery. When the Agent's revealed the truth to David, he was in misery. and eventually despite the adjustment bureau's warning, he continued to pursue the woman he loved. In turn, he is pursued in a "The Matrix" like fashion against hopeless odds.

I was also upset that the movie suggested God's plan could be upset. A timeless God, my God, doesn't need an adjustment bureau. His plan is unbreakable and if it can be changed, it can only be done so by his will. I was very uncomfortable about the position the Christian viewer is put in here. As the end of the movie was wrapped up nicely to make me feel better about it, I still was left struggling with my thoughts. When God is revealed to you, he doesn't leave you to suffer and his plan IS the only plan and he has already won.

Overall the movie was pretty good. I simply don't have a vast imagination for how God operates. I also don't have much tolerance for how my maker is portrayed in any form of media. That's because the plan of God and his means of operation is layed out pretty darn clearly in scripture. So, if you're going to make a movie where God plays a part, at least do your homework.

Run for (rather than from) God.

2011-02-12T19:09:00.000-08:00

In February 2010 or somewhere in that vicinity I set a goal to lose 100 lbs in two years. After an onset of rheumatoid arthritis and a pathetic attempt at Weight Watchers I found myself in August where I started in February. Since the Tuesday after Labor Day 2010, I have been on a weight loss plan popular in NW Georgia called "Thrive". I have stuck to it with good results and in just a little over 4 months I have lost 50 lbs. Knowing that the first 50 lbs would be the easiest and the fastest, this time I told myself that I would start running/exercising after I lost 50 lbs. I knew I would pound my arthritis ridden skeleton into a pulp carrying that much weight. So, I hit the 50 lb mark and it's time to hit the pavement.

Motivation hasn't been easy since I am still a good 50-60 lbs over weight. Somehow I have to do this. Besides, when my awesome wife offered to buy me running shoes rather than video games, it was a good sign that my loved ones were in favor of me finding the motivation. Besides the obvious benefits to my health, I found the extra motivation I needed in Christ.

I have begun a Christian based "Couch to 5K" program called Run for God. It basically takes your typical Lazy-boy Ogre like myself through a slow progression of running to a 5K in about 12 weeks. In addition, it is an awesome time for Christian fellowship and/or time with God himself through prayer and meditation. The author also happens to be a local fellow from Dalton, Georgia. Week one workout goes like this:

Stretch well.
Start with 5 minutes of brisk walking.
JOG for 1 minute(not run).
walk for 1.5 minutes and then run 1 minute repeating this for a duration of 20 minutes, ending a 30 minute workout with a cool down brisk walk.

My group met our first Monday this week and I am accountable for this workout 3 times before we meet this coming Monday. With a busy week including a very sick wife and kids activities I didn't find time to run ...er walkish run, until Friday. Running 3 days in a row isn't the optimum way to start and I think it's frowned upon quite frankly. Nevertheless I want to fill my obligation and I feel a bit determined.

So Friday I took a vacation day because a kid was home sick. As she napped, I decided to give it a go right before noon. I have felt pretty darn good recently having shed 50 lbs. However, when I hit the first 1 minute stride of jogging the ugly reality of gravity grabbed me, squeezed my cheeks and called me chubby. I am not a gazelle. The minute although humbling was not horrible and I made it no problem through the first three regiments of alternating paces. It was about 34 degrees that morning and this is about the time asthma ran out from under a house like a doberman and bit me right in the chest. The cool air hitting my lungs suddenly made it impossible to draw a full breath and it felt like my chest was expanding about 33% capacity. For the next 10 minutes it was all I could do to continue walking. I certainly wasn't prepared and didn't bring my inhaler. I started praying as I remembered why I was doing this and slowly began to get by breath back. I stretched the workout to 45 minutes and finished with the alternating paces I started with. My ankles and feet were killing me particularly in the arches of my feet. It was time to cash in on that birthday gift and go get fitted for some decent running shoes. My foundation really took a beating.

Today my wife Alisha and I, along with our 3 year old terror Carter, loaded up and drove to Chattanooga to one of the only reputable "running" stores where you can actually get fitted with a shoe that is right for you. I got a pair of Nike running shoes and the difference from my old shoes is amazing. Click here to see my new shoes.

I stayed up till 3-4 AM Friday night playing PS3 with some buddies and after waking up around 8:30 Saturday morning, I had a busy day of cleaning house with Alisha, shopping and cooking dinner. After dinner I was still determined to get my run in and this time with new shoes! In addition, I dosed up with Albuterol to prevent any asthma attacks. I listened to my favorite contemporary Christian group Gungor on my Blackberry as I set out. WOW what a difference a good pair of shoes and some asthma medicine can make. I did the workout as recommended with ease and felt as though I could have done more. I didn't because it isn't recommended and I could still feel the pain in my feet from the beating they took the day before. Praise God it was an amazing experience and I can't wait to do it again. That will be tomorrow I hope.

I have another year to lose another 50 lbs. I can do this. God and Nike willing, I can do this. God can do this.

Clinging to hope

2011-01-24T08:08:00.000-08:00

Sunday morning I sat eyes half open, feasting reluctantly on a bowl of Special K Protein cereal and a half cup of skim milk, when I saw something on SportsCenter very telling: Bowling highlights. Is there any surer sign that football season is nearing a close and that we are about to enter the dismal two month period where football fans get Giddy over National Signing Day and the NFL draft.

Usually this is a time of minor depression for me but this year is so different. Thank the Lord that football season is almost over so we can forget this year happened. I should give props to my Atlanta Falcons. Although the " One and Done" playoff performance was very disappointing, they had a magnificent season and I couldn't be happier where this program is going.

However, I'm a Dawg fan and perhaps to a level that isn't considered "healthy" at times. This past season hurt like coming home to find your spouse smoking a crack pipe -Shocking, disappointing and coming to the end of a rope. I have see-sawed back and forth on whether or not I want to see Mark Richt gone. More often than not, gone is what I felt, although I have grown to appreciate and admire him over the years. Obviously he's going to get a chance to turn things around and this is the right thing to do but there is MUCH to answer.

So, as a loyal but deeply hurt fan what is there to do other than hope. It seems MUCH of our immediate turn around is all banking on recruiting. But, if the "Dream Team" comes to fruition, the IS much to hope for and it is looking good. We landed two HUGE recruits from Valdosta last week. Over the next two weeks we learn a lot about our fate. The three must have recruits are still available and I'm telling you I think we are going to get all three:

John Jenkins
Isaiah Crowell
Ray Drew

These Three are key to making it happen. We have a lot of other awesome recruits coming. But these are the three we need to make IMMEDIATE impact. I say now I think we get all three. I sense the perfect storm brewing in Athens. I watch recruiting and National Signing Day with great optimism. This is my Superbowl. This is my hope as a Bulldog faithful.

One of our Valdosta recruits has been burning up Twitter this weekend. While it's good to see him jump head first into being a Dawg, some of his tweets are less than inspirational and immediately cause concern over behavior as he isn't concerned about perception. Let's hope it's piss and vinegar and not a future arrest by campus police in Athens.

John Jenkins is indeed the missing link. He seems to be a good kid who appreciates his position and is handling it maturely. I can't wait to see him blow up offensive lines while wearing the red and black.

Isaiah Crowell is a wild card in recruiting and development. He is without a doubt a game changer and leaking talent. Does he have potential to get into trouble? he reminds me of a young Ricky Williams. The hair may have something to do with that.

Ray Drew is a born leader. With hardcore Christian values and incredible work ethic on top of being a physical freak, this guy has leadership potential right out of the can. I think he will set a great example for his teammates.

We get these recruits and we BETTER make something amazing come from it. We will see. We as fans can only hope. The guys gotta get to work!

The Whisper of Wisdom Calls

2010-12-20T13:23:00.000-08:00

Am I bold enough to call myself wise. Maybe not but I certainly know "stupid is as stupid does". Sometimes there are things a person just can't let go of. I'm sure what I am about to say is mentioned somewhere in past posts but I can't help but say it anyway and hope it is more meaningful this time. Here's my thinking on modern politics.

First off, nobody likes to talk politics anymore. It usually get feelings hurt and causes some kind of disruption. It's because nobody likes politics anymore because they have become something that is so Non-American that for the life of me I can't understand how we as a nation united got here. Politics have become a two headed monster fighting it's own madness for the same yet different agenda of power. It's nothing more than that! It's sole purpose it to gain that power at all cost just so it can chop off the other head. We, the people of America, the Citizens of The United States of America are thus forced into a choice of one head or the other hoping the one we side with wins. But we or they never win. The other head always grows back. and there is never a right choice because neither head is better than the other. Neither can get past the task of bringing ruin to the other so it is a truly vicious cycle.

I am reminded of the Dr. Seuss story called the Sneetches. It's a childrens book about two groups or classes of the same creature who's only difference is a star on the belly of one group. The class without got stars to be like the other group and the ones with removed theirs to retaliate and to keep separation. By mid book it was a mad race to remove the star or add the star which eventually led to them not knowing who the heck was who. It's the perfect representation of racism and illustrates it's perfect resolution. Politics is not unlike these sneetches in it's effort to keep our county divided through leadership. Politics are so vile and filled with hatred that after the election we can't get past our differences so we can get things done for our country. We can only start the slander and mud gathering for the next election. Unfortunately unlike the Sneetches we can't blend. We can't come across a resolution even by accident. When was our last Congressman, Senator, President who put our country's well being ahead of the interest of their respective parties?? I don't know of one in my lifetime.

Why hasn't someone been bold enough and respected enough to break down these walls and say enough of this crap? Why isn't there a knight in shining armor that will come along and cut both heads off the dragon and end it's reign of terror? Am I the only one that sees this? Am I the only one that cares. Do American really think that Democratic, Republican or both/either are the answer to our Nations issues? Does anyone really think that either can or will change the way anything is right now? Common sense will tell you they will not. They are protecting the interest of their people and I am here to tell you that is not US!

I certainly don't have the platform to change a nation, but if I can open the eyes of a few then maybe someone else will. Or maybe a fire will be started for a new group to warm by as we gain our strength. Maybe someone will hear the small voice in a sea of fools.

Where's the Fire??

2010-12-14T13:19:00.000-08:00

It dawned on me this week that my Blog entries are getting more and more scarce. For this reason I have to analyze myself and ask why. To start off I ask myself why do I even bother writing a Blog. Answer: well it started out as a kind of sick self therapy to help me sort through what was going on in my head and give me the ability to express myself to others, in which I otherwise do a pretty lousy job at.

So why haven't I been "expressing" myself? I'm not really sure of all the reasons but I do know a few. Mostly I write when I feel passionate about something. I really haven't been "on fire" for a whole lot lately. Spiritually with my relationship with Christ I am certainly fired up as ever but I've kind of sorted out what I'm supposed to be as a Christian and I don't express myself as much without there being some kind of a struggle. The Georgia Bulldogs have had such an uneventful season I honestly haven't felt like writing much. I'll go with the "if I can't say anything good don't say anything at all" rule here. So there has been a lack of inspiration but that is good in some ways. In college as an art major, much of my inspiration came from misery, pain, loneliness and the awkward transition from boy to man. I can't really say that for writing because there has been much joy in much of what I've written here. Still I haven't had much to say as of late.

So, for the sake of rambling on about something I will mention a few things not worthy of mentioning on their own.

It's Christmas time and I absolutely love this time of year to take a break away from work and spend time with family. Alisha and I went on our annual Christmas shopping day to Kennesaw, GA this past Saturday. I also look forward to this day and as we shopped Saturday I expressed to Alisha that I don't get why I get so excited about "shopping" day every year. She said it was because I get to spend the whole day with her without kids. She's right. It's also because I really like to see "what's new". In my busy life, I don't always get to stay on top of that in the big metropolis of Chatsworth, Georgia.

I've also given some thought to doing some community service while I'm off during the holidays. I still fight back road rage every day, especially where people (particularly Murray County, Georgia) don't understand what "slower traffic keep right" means. I thought maybe I could stand by one of those signs wearing something flashy maybe sequins, and wave at folks with one hand and point at the sign with the other. It might work even better if I waved with just one finger. Murray County is still the driving etiquette dumb-ass capital of the world. I'm out to save the county one dumb-ass at a time.

Now that we've established that I can say "dumb-ass" and still be a Christ follower, although there are those that might disagree( Jesus called out a fool when he saw one too although he was much more empowered to do so.) Let me tell you what's up with me spiritually. I have struggled greatly with understanding and patience (which is also why I think there are so many dumb-asses in Murray County) I have been in a place much like Kevin Costner's character in "Field of Dreams". "If you build it they will come". Unlike Costner I don't really ask "What's in it for me?" but I can't help but ask WHEN? When "What" you might ask? Well that's the funny part because I'm not sure. However through prayer I feel God is telling me to prepare for something significant. Prepare to rally with your family, your brothers and sisters at church and your community. I am excited about this. I haven't been smoking the hookah pipe although the title to this entry might suggest otherwise.

I am convinced daycare was designed either by the Mafia or teamsters, not that there's really a difference. In these parts if there is a chance of a snowflake sticking to the curb, school is going to close. My youngest, Carter 3, attends daycare. Our daycare chooses to close if the school system closes. Now with a school system I get it. Buses have to run here and there on country roads, many of which are in higher elevations that make for potentially treacherous travel. You simply can't have school just for those that can make it, because it's not fair to miss the education if you're one of those that can't. However, my daycare is a paid service in which I EXPECT to be carried out as I pay. Still, our daycare's owner sees a snowflake as a day off with pay. I have to pay whether she keeps Carter or not. What a racket! And she's got us by the gotcha too! What am I gonna do about it??

Well, there you have it. That's what I've been thinking lately, most of it not worthy of telling. Nonetheless, I live in Murray County so that officially makes me a dumb-ass, so please forgive me for being inconsiderate and wasting your time with my rambling. Merry Christmas and keep right you morons!

I'm Running the Option.

2010-11-15T06:08:00.000-08:00

Like many, I have an opinion about Saturdays game against Auburn. I have always appreciated Auburn and a classy rival with tradition and values that resembled our own more than other SEC programs. That opinion changed Saturday.

Although I had planned on layinig it all out with a deep ball for you this morning, I read another BLOG that I felt said it for me. So with that, I'm going to catch my breath and pitch the ball here on the option. Read it HERE on Hedges2Hardwood.

The only thing I would add is where do we go now? Georgia played with class and played hard, but Auburn is not that great. Undefeated yes but this year is an off year for the SEC ripe for the pickin'. Auburn capitalized, we did not, although I would rather lose like we did than win like they did. I cannot ignore the fact that we are not in the SEC championship this year. Saturday's game is the ONLY one we should have lost and that is questionable. We have been horribly out coached this year and as much as it pains me, as much as I LOVE Mark Richt, I think it is time for a change before our program suffers Fulmerization.

To hell with Tech! We beat them this weekend and become bowl elligible. It may be the Quaker Oats Bowl........but we'll be bowl eligible!

The Cat Burglar of Camden Lane.

2010-11-12T11:26:00.000-08:00

My mother and Step-father live in beautiful Dublin Georgia which for whatever reason I will always call home, even if I never live there again. It's a typical Georgia town with a town square, corn fed kids general good community and southern hospitality, not to mention the home of the international Red Neck Games which we are so proud of.

My mother lives in a residential area that's not quite "in the country" but it's not quite in the city either. I guess that qualifies it to be a Dublin suburb. It's always been a great area to live in with pretty much no trouble. That is until recently. My mother is a dog lover as am I and our dogs are our family. Remember that before you ever kick a dog. Nevertheless, Mom has a fenced in kennel of a pretty substantial size on the back of her house. She can let the dogs out the back door so they can run around a bit and do their business before she lets them back in the house. On either side of the kennel is a gate, one for each side of the house. These gateways are where the trouble began.

One morning my mother got a call from a neighbor because her "babies" were playing in the road. Unsure of how they got out of the kennel she retrieved the dogs and investigated to find one of the gates by the car port was wide open. This is a problem understand, because we don't let the babies play in the road! Naturally she started a suspect list of who left it open. I'm sure it started with the usual suspects. My nephew Kameron, my niece Myra, or my step-father. I assure you all were questioned. No one admitted to the deed.

This continued to happen almost daily. When it was evident the usual suspects were not involved her suspicions turned to the neighbors, particularly the neighborhood kids who have always found their way to my mothers property because of the pond which all the kids fish in. There was one kid in particular my mother was sure was the culprit and he/she was doing it out of spite. She started watching like a watch dog into the evenings and never could catch the little booger. It became obvious that this was happening late at night and was not the work of some child.

This brought fear not only to my mother but to the whole neighborhood. Knowing that someone was coming onto her property in the wee hours and casing the joint was nerve racking. The Sheriffs department got involved an began making regular passes throughout the night, watching the area closely. Still, the gates were often open the next morning.

Finally my brother in law set up a game camera with motion sensors to catch the culprit red handed. Indeed it did. The cat burglar was caught in the act. Late that very night the fiend all dressed in black walked up, opened the gate and went through the kennel, opened up the other gate, and was gone. The ONLY way the culprit could possible be identified was the green collar he wore.

Last I heard my mother was trying to find the owner of the black Labrador Retriever with the green collar. In addition she was dreading calling the sheriffs office to inform them they could scale back the patrol. If it had been a neighbor's kid, my mother would have beat them senseless with a broom or if an adult, kicked their teeth in. But not this beautiful dog that was smart enough to open gates. There will be no dog kicking it those parts! The gates are now secured with a quick release clasp. Maybe that will keep him out...........Maybe.

And so is the excitement of a South Georgia town, where crickets still chirp at the stars and the biggest troubles of the night are still a hound getting in the hen house.

I'm going home for Thanksgiving this year - God Bless.

Rock the Vote!

2010-10-27T05:55:00.000-07:00

Since I have been old enough to vote, I have been pretty good about doing my civic duty in doing so. In that time, I have never been to the place I am now as a voter. I'll admit I have pretty much been Republican to the bone but have never been so blind to not know the right candidate. Today however, I am without a party. Republicans and Democrats alike have ruined the foundation of our nation. Their primary focus being overpowering each other rather than uniting to strengthen our country is exactly what's wrong with our nation. When our forefathers wrote our constitution, they did a pretty darn good job of putting together a doctrine that would have longevity. The Bill of Rights soon followed which essentially allows updates as our world changes. So look at us now. Is this what our forefathers envisioned for our government? Did they see the mudslinging, the corruption, the stagnation of government response to do what is right, what is best for our nation?

I've not yet voted here in Georgia, although many have. Last night while on "The Facebook" and Chatting it up with my Uncle Bobby, discussions went in this direction. Specifically, in reference to our candidates for Governor, I said we don't have anyone worthy of a vote. Fact is, WE DON"T!! It sort of felt that way in this past Presidential election as well and with good warrant. So what do we do? Why vote? Who gets my vote? The lesser of two evils? That is Exactly what Ive been doing for years now. What's wrong?

The answer is simple. We should re-name our country "The States", because we are no longer worthy of calling ourselves "United", one nation under God. Lawyers and today's media are modern day witchdoctors, ,or spin doctors if you will, that have manipulated us as a country, as a culture, as humans, as Christians. Even those that are of other religious factions have suffered. It's not as we are divided from one state to the next, but from individual to individual. The political bickering bleeds out of Congress and into the streets where we pick up the fight and become divided. Fact is folks that after the election is over, we are supposed to shake hands and UNITE to work on our country. Instead we are so busy working on our OWN agenda as soon as the election is over, we start throwing rocks for the next election. It makes me sick at my stomach.

So, what do we do? I'll go back to my discussion with my Uncle Bobby and his response to my question, "Who do we vote for"?. He said the most brilliant thing I've heard in a long time and it is so simple. I quote:
"Just use the write in ballot and write down GOD." Wow!! So THAT is EXACTLY what I'm going to do!!

Now before you worry about me running off and bombing any abortion clinics let me put your mind at ease. I'm no extremist. But I am ready to take our country back. I'm ready to give it back to God. Let's consider what it would look like if EVERY Christian wrote down God on the write in for every election. How many would God win?? What would our government do with that? Likely they will give the position to the person with the next highest amount of votes. However, it would send the loudest message to our government that our country has ever seen or heard: We are fed up with your political bull crap, we want God running our country again. NOW!!

Vote for God for Governor of Georgia - his record and resume is the only perfect one in existence.

Yoga - The Devils Stretch?

2010-10-07T06:41:00.000-07:00

I saw a headline today that said and I quote: "Southern Baptist Seminary President Albert Mohler says the stretching and meditative discipline derived from Eastern religions is not a Christian pathway to God.
Mohler said he objects to "the idea that the body is a vehicle for reaching consciousness with the divine."
"That's just not Christianity," Mohler told The Associated Press"
You can see the article here.

Nevertheless, this is what I see as a typical Baptist reaction. Let me clarify that my roots in growing up are Baptist. It's also the reason I quit going to church for better than half my life. I am saddened and somewhat angered by such statements.

Recently I thought I learned my lesson from challenging a Pastor for I certainly don't want to disturb the flow of God's work. In this case I can't help myself and I have to speak up. I feel God wants me to because this is just wrong. I contacted Mr. Mohler and below is my e-mail to him.

Dr. Mohler -

I'm limited on time here so forgive me for being frank. Your recent stance on Yoga is disturbing to me as a Christian. Yoga in no way is a separation from Christ. It's origins may be from a different culture with another religion but what else will you exclude? Chinese food? Kosher Dills? Martial Arts? Any activity that derives from outside the Baptist culture? I grew up Baptist and this is exactly what drove me AWAY from Christ for many years.

Fortunately I am with a church now that focuses on a living relationship with Christ and the Holy Bible is our Scripture. It doesn't say anything about "Satan's Yoga", or wearing a coat and tie to church. It doesn't place man made rules and ideals above the ideals Jesus set for us.

Jesus went to the wicked and saved. As he parted he asked we do things as and greater than he did. If a Yoga class was filled with Buddhist or Hindu, or simply lost souls, going there would be an opportunity to tell them about Christ. Telling your followers to avoid this exercise, as if it were wicked, is not only incorrect but it robs Christians from the opportunity of following Christ.

Matthew 28:19-20 19 Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in[a] the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age."

How can we do this if we avoid exposing our self to the world. If I can "walk through the valley of the shadow of death", surely with Christ, I can attend a yoga class and walk out a better Christian.

Sincerely -

James Victor Webb

Christ Follower

If You agree with me I urge you to express yourself to Dr. Mohler as well. Be nice, expose your love for Christ, and let God do the rest. You can contact him here.

Side note - My UGA dawgs are in a bad way and face a pathetic UT that is playing above the talent level they possess. If we lose to the lowly Vols at home after the season we've had so far, a turd of epic proportions is going to hit the proverbial fan. Go Dawgs - please!

Houdini and the "state of the union"

2010-09-24T06:08:00.000-07:00

The Great Escape
Once again, I have a rodent issue. I'm not sure if it's rat-like or mouse-like or both. I certainly do have at least one. Last time I battled the vermin I had gotten pretty good at it. So I go back to what I had learned. I used sticky traps in two old air ducts that "should" be blocked off from under the house. They are sealed with "The Stuff" which is the expanding foam that dries to an insulating barrier. Rats are "supposed" to despise the stuff and won't chew through it. WRONG!.

So I place a sticky trap in each air duct and this morning There is a tremendous struggle going on in one of the vents. I just smiled and ate a bowl of cereal waiting for the little guy to settle down so I could dispose of him. Soon it was quiet and I got the flashlight and opened the vent. There on the wall of the vent stuck my trap. The rodent of unknown lineage was gone. How in the land of all that is Holy did it get loose. Last year my dog got caught in on of these and struggled only to have all four feet stuck by the time I found her. Heck I got caught in one of these in a warehouse one night and I couldn't get out without taking my shoes off.

Half of the glue was peeled back. The were no rodent appendages or any other tale signs of a desperate measures escape. I simply don't get it. Nevertheless, I doubt this type trap will work on this specific rodent again. Maybe the poisons I have strategically placed will work. I don't know how many rodents I have but I have at least one. His name is Houdini.

Dawg Gone
I had very high expectations for my Georgia Bulldogs this year. I have envisioned spectacular things for what will likely be AJ Green's last year with us. As the season is three games deep I am overwhelmingly disappointed. AJ hasn't played yet and we are 1-2. 0-2 in the SEC. I THINK we have been beaten by two pretty good teams in South Carolina and Arkansas. Still I think we are or should be better than both of these teams.

I wish our defense were a bit better but I'm not truly disappointed here. Grantham has improved us here but he hasn't had the chance to recruit and develop the key players that set this scheme off. To be specific. We still need the speed we have but we need some players of size in two key positions. First off we need a big strong beast at nose guard. We have guys playing hard there and doing OK but we don't have the game changer. Secondly, we need more big and tall defensive backs that can not only stop the big play, but turn it around with turnover.

My biggest concerns are where we should be the strongest. Our running game is poor. I don't think our running backs are running with vision or determination. We are not hard to tackle. our offensive line bothers me the most. We should have one of the better lines in the nation. We are not winning the battle at the line of scrimmage. Pass blocking is pretty decent and our redshirt freshman quarterback Murray is doing a very good job. Our play calling by our offensive coordinator is making many question his legitimacy. Should Bobo be calling plays. I am concerned that he should not. I'm sure that we will get better as the season progresses but we have to start being good at the start of the season to win championships.We shouldn't need AJ green to win the games we have lost this year. come on guys let's get it together.
The state of the union is not good at this time for the Bulldog Nation.

I'm going to take my daughter to see my "step-brother-in-law" ( Her Uncle Colby Jacckson #48) play this weekend as his NC State Wolfpack takes on the Georgia Tech nerd herd. It's my daughters 15th birthday and she'd rather go see a football game than sit around the house all day mouse hunting with her old man. I'll make it home in time to see my beloved Dawgs play in Starkville, cowbells and all. Happy Bithday to my oldest!

Go Wolfpack!!

Go Dawgs!!!

In Christ -
Vic

I Wish My Daughters Still Ate Boogs.

2010-09-01T06:07:00.000-07:00

The comedian Sinbad Once said "You can rob a bank with a booger!", to represent the fear that we as a society have of the resilient nose goblin. He may very well be correct. I think there are some grown men who would jump off a cliff into a pit of vipers if faced with the threat of boog exposure. I have to ask, where does this fear come from? Is it an inborn trait? Absolutely not! It comes from some unidentified trauma that occurs in nearly everyone's life.

I have never known a child that didn't feast on nasal flakes. As disturbing that is to us as adults it is the truth. Kids don't fear the boog. I don't ever remember eating boogs as a kid but I'm pretty sure I did and I'm pretty sure you did too. I cannot comprehend why. There is a mere one inch journey from the nose to the mouth and as inconspicuous and efficient as that journey is, it is anything but logical.

So in our early years we eat boogers and at some point we stop, some sooner than others. Do we as parents even notice when the switch happens? Let's consider WHY we stop:

First theory, our parents TOLD us to stop. They told us OVER and OVER again until finally it stuck. "Told" may be accompanied with punishment and humiliation I suppose but generally I think we just repeat ourselves until we are blue in the face. I suspect this is the most uncommon reason we stop.
Second is peer pressure which is accompanied by public humiliation. This is also called the "Johnny just ate a booger" Theory. Some other kids catches us feasting as we are possibly not even aware of what we are doing. An announcement it is made that is so humiliating we become aware of our actions and promptly stop. "Ladies and Gentlemen please bring your attention to the center stage and behold the amazing Shirley as she swallows a nose cracker". Yea, I can imagine that would do it for me.
Third and finally, there is possibly something in the puberty thing where we start having interest in the opposite sex. During this stage of life our body chemistry changes and it's possible we no longer need the nutritional values of a booger. In addition, our appearance and our public image becomes one of life's focal points. "I can't let him see me eat a booger, he won't like me." I think this is where "the change" happens for many and we let go of the booger.

So, no matter what the reason is, the fact is we grow up to fear the booger. Nothing on earth is more fearless that a mother who will not hesitate to remove boogerage from her child's face. My wife sometimes reminds me of the Crocodile Hunter as she will dive in without hesitation and wrestle out a snot gator. Even the Father will at times roll up his sleeves and battle the boog. It's easier when it's your kids stuff. No one is going to retrieve boogers from some stranger on a subway.

So it's part of growing up. My girls have stopped (I think) and that's kinda sad and scary particularly where theory number three comes into play. Little Carter keeps on Boogin out without hesitation. I'll keep telling him to stop, until he does.

Side note: UGA vs UL- Lafayette Saturday as College Gameday is finally back! Go Dawgs!

Labor Day Revisited - Some things don't change, particularly those that reside in your heart.

2010-08-31T06:39:00.000-07:00

As we approach Labor Day yet again, I reflect of what it means to me. I said it so well last year that I don't see much reason in a re-do. So, I'm going to just hot-link you to last years post at this time. With that here it is. Go Dawgs!!

http://vixcave.blogspot.com/2009/08/change-fast-or-slow-is-still.html

God Bless SEC football. May we have a clean season with good sportsmanship.

Bearing Fruit in Leadership.

2010-08-13T11:20:00.000-07:00

In today's world of information abundance and social networking you never know what one might see, hear or feel. Twitter is one, that as ridiculous as it may seem, is quite a useful way to get information on subjects of interest and successfully broadcast a message. However, do we always send the message we intended to send?

I "follow" a diverse array of characters on twitter such as sports figures, columnists, celebrities and worship leaders. Today, a certain Pastor of one of the Southeast's biggest mega churches "tweeted" something that didn't quite sit well with me. Out of respect I won't mention any names but he is young, bright, inspirational and his sermons elevate the word of Jesus so that thousands have come to know Christ. God is certainly working through him and I am thankful for his role in God's kingdom. Here is what he said:

" Having no turnover in your organization can be just as unhealthy as high turnover. Growth requires pruning."

Really? So, imagine I work for the church and I'm on my way to a morning staff meeting and I see this message. Growth requires Pruning? True, that is correct. What exactly is Pruning. In this example Pruning is turnover and it is required. Pruning is to "cut out" or for lack of a better word, terminate. Certainly he doesn't think you have to keep firing folks to grow. Does he? I know it's usually part of the natural process of growth and it happens but is it required?

I replied back, " Pruning is a poor choice of words. To cut for the sake of cutting?? How bout nurturing growth? Promotion? Encouraged change." I tried to send a direct message as to not broadcast my reply but as it turns out, if a person does not "follow" you, you cannot send them a direct private message. I don't think he liked my reply. He came back with the following and he was courteous enough to send me a direct message:

"See John 15:2-apparently Jesus thought prune was a very good word choice. I'm going w Jesus. Blessings!"

Touche! I'm certainly not going to argue with the word of God. I had to learn more about this passage. Let's take a look at John 15:2 and then some:

¹"I am the true vine, and my Father is the gardener. ²He cuts off every branch in me that bears no fruit, while every branch that does bear fruit he prunes^[a] so that it will be even more fruitful. ³You are already clean because of the word I have spoken to you. ⁴Remain in me, and I will remain in you. No branch can bear fruit by itself; it must remain in the vine. Neither can you bear fruit unless you remain in me.

Now, God is saying something completely different to me here and it is clear as a bell where leadership is involved. Good leadership is dear to my heart and poor leadership is much the same as sin to me. "He cuts off every branch in me that bears no fruit." THIS is where a termination happens. Non productive limbs on the tree must go. "While every branch that does bear fruit He prunes so that it will be even more fruitful." Pruning here isn't a termination. The limb remains intact. It is shaped, coached, and nurtured taking out the bad parts(actions, behaviors) and encouraging the good parts to grow better.

So Pastor GenX, , pruning is NOT turnover. Pruning is taking your fruit bearing members of your organization and making them better. If they bear no fruit, then you cut the limb from the vine. This is God's truth on leadership. Otherwise you are left with a rotting stem in fertile soil.

Although cutting bad limbs from your vine is all to often necessary it does not involve pruning. You certainly better be pruning and if you do this correctly, there will be much less turnover. Thanks for introducing me to this passage today. I suggest you revisit it again yourself Pastor Gen X.

Belong

2010-07-15T08:16:00.000-07:00

Belong - verb

To be in the relation of a member, adherent, inhabitant, etc.
To have the proper qualifications, esp. social qualifications, to be a member of a group
To be proper or due; be properly or appropriately placed, situated, etc.
To be the property of: To be a part or adjunct of:

"Belong" is a word that has much deeper meaning than it is normally used for in everyday conversation. Usually we use it as meaning a term of ownership. From a Christian point of view, this word should be in the very foundation of your faith. Lets look at how many ways it applies to Gods plan for us.

First let's state the obvious and refer to definition 4. It is the only place in the Christian faith where ownership applies. This one is God's. It ALL belongs to Him! You, me, the birds and the bees, It's all His. Your money is not yours at all, it's His. He wants you to keep 90% of it however. I Most definitely belong to God Almighty. Although everyone does not acknowledge this fact, it still remains to be true. However, there is an unsavory truth that if you don't acknowledge Christ as savior, his ownership will be purged to a fiery hell. Stick with me here because we certainly don't want that!

On the flip side, God belongs to me. He is my God and for this I will refer to definitions One and Three. I am an inhabitant of the lords spirit and He lives in me . He is an inhabitant of my heart. Also as part of Gods plan for me, I am appropriately placed when I am aligned with Him. I am in the right situation when I am walking in the spirit of the lord. He is appropriately placed in me. As I Christian when I say that he is my God and he belongs to me, I am acknowledging that I belong to Him.

Lets talk about Marriage. My wife belongs to me and likewise, I belong to her. I'll refer to definitions three and four here. Although I certainly don't own her as stated in the definition four, she is a part of me and I her. We are a whole as sanctified through marriage. We should not be parted by anything other than death. As stated in definition three, with her I am properly and appropriately placed. Together with her is where I belong. That's Gods plan for us through marriage between a man and a woman.

So, Where do my wife and I belong? Where should we be? The answer is: in God's kingdom. To expand upon that we belong in a house of worship where there is community in the name of our Lord and Savior. We belong in church. It is where we should be and it belongs to us. For this we refer to definitions one, two and three. To be in church is "to be in relation to a member" and to be an "inhabitant" in the kingdom of Christ. We are "properly placed" in the house of the Lord. We are "members of a group".

I want to go one step further within the church. My church makes use of small groups to feed it's community with fellowship and the word of God. It is just as it states, a small group of people within the church that come together outside of church in fellowship to worship and to love each other as God intended. I belong to a small group(definition two). Small group is what has made my relationship with church secure. It is what made me FEEL like I belonged. The people in small group made me feel like I belonged as they welcomed and loved my wife and I unconditionally. I can't imagine where I might be without it.

Each and every point I've made here can be expanded upon in great detail and I'm pretty sure there is scripture to support it. However, this is a BLOG entry and not a sermon, although it has the makings of a nice series. In Gods plan, we have a whole lot of belonging to do. If you don't belong you are obviously lost in the abyss. So I'll ask you this in closing: Do you belong? Where do you belong? Who do you belong to?

Everything I Know About World Cup Soccer.

2010-06-25T05:34:00.001-07:00

The Path

2010-06-22T11:53:00.000-07:00

As I read a recent post on my dear friend Gus's Blog , I was touched and inspired as I reflected on my own upbringing and life in comparison. For Gus, he described his as "perfect". As Gus faces the harsh reality of losing a loved one, my heart gets heavy not just for Gus, but it is also a reminder of being there myself less than two years ago. I totally get where Gus is at right now and at the same time I am intrigued how we are both "here" if you will but how much differed the path I took is from his path. I recommend reading his post linked above or the following won't quite be complete.

Much the same as Gus, I too had a "perfect" childhood. I grew up in an upper middle class family in a nice suburb in a small town. The 70's was a time where you felt safe growing up and the horrors the media shed light on today didn't send fear throughout the community and nation. Times were simple, fun and innocent. I remember spending my childhood at the pool and the golf course. I remember summers of tennis, baseball, vacation bible school and vacations. These were family vacations with an intact, fully functional family. It did at least, seem that way to me as I was ignorant to any issues that would soon enough rear it's ugly head. It was indeed "perfect".

Then my family got sick. It began with my parents growing apart. Although we went to church, sometimes, I now look back and think that we were not a family living in Christ. My parents grew apart and eventually divorced when I was 11 or 12 years old. My younger sister would have been around 4 or 5. Suddenly my life was no longer perfect. My mother went through years of not being well as she struggled to find herself. Alcohol and a desire to feel loved took her into a tailspin than lasted the rest of my childhood. As tough as this was on me it was even worse on my little sister. Through it all my mother was not able to be the mother she wanted to be. At 13 I moved in with my father. Although he certainly wasn't "perfect" himself, he did what he could, always made me feel loved and provided for my needs. Still I missed my Mom. I missed the "perfect" Mom I had. I look upon this with more clarity now than ever before, I realize how much resentment I had toward my parents but particularly my Mom. From the eyes of a child, she was all I could see that had changed. I think as I child I blamed her. Much of this time in my life is a blur as I seemed to have blocked much of it out but I know enough to know those weren't always happy times. My parents would rack up just short of 10 divorces between them.

As an adult I now have a better understanding of my mothers struggles. An alcoholic divorced mother with issues that went back to long before I was born. She was dealing with her demons. As she did, the Lord sent angels in to help her in seeing that I got the love and attention I needed in her absence. My Aunt Jean, who isn't even really a blood relative was the first. There were so many times my sister and I stayed with her while my mother sorted through the mess in her life. She brought a taste of "perfect" back into our lives if not only for a moment. As a teen living with my single father, I had Mrs. Nan Mays. The mother of one of my high school friends. For all purposes she was my mother too as I went through high school, which has to be one of the most difficult times in any one's life as they make the transition into an adult. She taught me so much about love, relationships, ethics, and values. Yes, God sent me surrogate mothers while mine was away.

As I went to college I began to face my own demons. Let downs and heart break led me to become a person I am now am not so proud of. However, it also gave me gifts such as confidence, determination, social skills and obviously an education. I was wild as bearcat and hard headed as ever. I didn't have parents at this time because I truly didn't allow myself to have any. I was making my own path and agenda. This is the format I chose until I started what I will call my rebirth.

After college I started a career. With that, I also had a desire for a meaningful relationship. I had become a whore monger at best and even though I certainly wasn't worthy, God send me another gift; my wife. Immediately I was a better person. I became the person I really always wanted to be. This was my "rebirth". In turn, my Mom had finally started on her road to recovery although my sister had begun her spiral out of control. My relationship with my father was always good, yet I began to enjoy my time with him even more. I had a step father that was not only as good as I could ask for but he also became a close friend to my father.

As my Father approached his death on December 4, 2008, I realized that my family was whole again. We all loved each other through it. My Dad loved my Mom. My Mom loved my Dad, and my Step-Father loved them both. None of us are perfect but somehow this family was "perfect" again. I'm not quite sure how that's possible but that's how it feels. My wife and I both grew up in the textbook dysfunctional scenario, yet we now have three incredible children and are blessed beyond my belief. We are anything but dysfunctional. How is that possible? My sister is married to one of the most awesome guys I have had the pleasure to know and has a beautiful family. My Mom is nutty as a Snickers bar but I know she loves me and always has.

Maybe it was perfect after all. Nevertheless, I took a different path, with no regrets. I am most honored to walk alongside my buddy Gus -In Christ. I am so sorry that Gus is coming to the close of such a beautiful chapter in his life.

Mom - I love you. Although our relationship still mends, you are now and always have been my Mom.

Image by : John Harvey Photo

As the oil spills, so do emotions.

2010-06-04T07:47:00.000-07:00

I normally don't become emotionally connected with news headlines, disasters or other national tragedies. I do recall a few: Columbine, which has been an unfortunate trend setter, comes to mind first. Secondly, the attack on the World Trade Center on 9/11. The recent oil spill in the gulf however hits close to home for some reason. I am really overcome with a blend of anger and sadness.

As I said in an earlier BLOG I am suspicious if it was really an accident or intentional. Either way it happened and it's still happening 45 days later. I am angry that this thing is still leaking and we just sit here and watch the BP stooges failed attempt after failed attempt to stop it. I don't think they are trying to stop it. I think they are trying to reclaim the oil. Or maybe I should say reclaim the source of the oil. I don't think they want to abandon the financial investment they have in tapping that oil pocket.

I certainly wouldn't call myself a tree hugger. I'm a hunter and fisherman, and I value natural resources as they are our God given right and responsibility. When I see pictures of the dead pelicans, dolphins, turtles and fish I feel like choking the life out of an oil man. When I see the lives of hard working fishermen and their culture taken away from them I am pissed off. When I see the natural beauty of our gulf shores oiled down with petroleum gunk I am irate.

Here we are 45 days and counting. The ocean is full of oil. The gulf stream is picking it up and it's going to make it's tour. When will it hit the east coast? What happens to tourism along all of our nations beaches comes to a halt? What will be the true financial impact? What about other nations? South and Central America, Cuba, Bahamas? What species will be wiped out? Blue Crabs? Manatees?

The biggest question, when does it stop? I am mad, sad and want somebody strung up by the....... and if President Obama doesn't have the backbone to make that happen then maybe he should be strung up by the grapes. You Jackass's.

God forgive my ranting and give me peace from the anger and resentment I feel.

Dear LOST - Can BP borrow the Jughead Bomb?

2010-05-25T08:18:00.000-07:00

I've never been a conspiracy theorist or one to be overly suspicious of the world around me but lately I find myself very suspicious of our country's government and it's core relationship with the oil industry. I have more and more questions about our motives, our insight, our unity and our direction at it's core. Call me crazy, but here goes.

On March 31, 2010 President Obama upset or "stirred up" if you will, years of policy and his own environmental backers. He opened up through policy, a generous portion of East Coast waters, protected areas in the Gulf of Mexico and Alaska to drilling. Finally a step in the direction of getting away from foreign oil dependency right? It seemed so until Tuesday April 20, 2010.

Less than 3 weeks after this bill passes a disaster hits an oil rig in the Gulf of Mexico. An oil rig explodes and results in an uncontrollable oil leak in the pristine waters of our Gulf. Really?? Someone tell me please when was the last time this happened. Coincidence?? I find that too hard to believe. I think it is deliberate.

So who's responsible? That's the hard part. Our Government (Obama) proving an "I told you so" point the hard way? British Petroleum as an attempt to prevent additional drilling by competitors thus protecting record profit margins? A collaboration of both the forementioned in a collaboration to protect the common interest of both? So let's say it warrants investigation. Who will investigate? I'll tell you, US government and BP officials to no prevail. Why did it blow up and why is there no plan in the event it does?

Now on to the cleanup. BP is heading this up and through social networking( Facebook, Twitter, ETC) they are launching a shameless publicity campaign literally bragging about "look at all we are doing to help in this tragedy". Tell that to all the wildlife, the fishermen, and the worldwide consumers negatively impacted by this. It makes me sick. Now the public thinks our government should step in to stop the leak and clean up the spill. Government experts say they are not prepared for the undertaking. WHAAAAAAAT?? Give Jack Bauer a snorkel and a sack of concrete and 30 minutes later it should be done right?? Obviously it's not that simple but we can stop that oil leak and we could have on day one. Simply "blow the hatch", cork the bottle and quit with the shameless attempt to reclaim the oil that is spilling. Abandon that drill site and find a new way into that pocket of oil. With the proper safety devices in place this time please!.

With the greed money made by oil companies, BP should be solely responsibly for the financial impact of this disaster, paying restitution for everything lost: jobs, natural resources, tourism, etc. Our Government is gutless and lacking integrity if it doesn't demand just that. It would also further suggest involvement or at least putting the health of government/oil industry relations above that of the well being of the American people.

This isn't quite rocket science folks and even if it was we are absolutely capable. Our government thinks we are stupid and rightfully so. We are. Oil Companies are currently robbing our income though collaborative monopoly and now we see they have no problem crapping right in our back yard!

I close with these thoughts: This is certainly no slam at the Democratic party. Although I despise where they are taking our country, I was no more thrilled at where we were going under Republican leadership. This has been a bitter post because I am bitter. I usually have something in my BLOGS about my Christian faith or at the very least some Georgia Bulldog Football. So to hold tradition here goes. A big part of being a Christian is loving others. It's wanting do for others. It is about putting others before yourself and your own agendas. It is the foundation of what our country was built on. We have not had that kind of leadership in my lifetime. If we don't get away from the agendas of Democrats and Republicans, Oil Companies and the Auto Industries, we are in big trouble and it will come sooner than later. We Need Patriots not Politicians. Where are they? We should pray they rise to the occasion.

Oh yea.........GO DAWGS!

Got Weeds?

2010-04-22T08:49:00.000-07:00

Spring is in the air folks and with that, it's also in my head as if a half pound of pollen has impacted my sinuses. I feel like I snorted a sack of flour. Nevertheless the world is in bloom and it's time to get in the yard and tend our gardens, lawns and landscapes. It's this time of year every year that I engage in and endless battle with weeds and crab grass. I'll be the first to admit that I'm not an expert on gardening or prevention where weeds and crab grasses are concerned. In fact, every year I fight this battle only to be beaten down by the mutant plants that nothing seems to kill. Still, every year I wage war and some years I fight harder than others. There is certainly one constant. The weeds are not going away.

I have used many weapons in my war on weeds. I have used prevention which you put out before weeds germinate. ( when I say weeds I include crab grass in that category as it's been the most difficult to get rid of.) Still with prevention the weeds come back. I have used the traditional poisons such as "Round Up", or "Weed Be Gone". These are the easiest to use and are somewhat effective but when summer comes around it is overwhelming. Lastly, I used hand to hand combat as I simply pull the weeds by hand plucking them from my life. It's an endless battle that I always give into. It requires every day plucking out the new growth and it will keep popping up in every part of your garden, yard and landscaping. When you clear one area it pops up somewhere else. You have to just keep on fighting it out of your yard. You can be successful with these methods as I've seen it happen on other peoples property. Maybe I just don't quite know how to make that happen but I sure would like to have a nice lawn like that. Maybe I simply don't work at it hard enough

For a moment, lets say that your life, your soul and your salvation is representational for your yard, your garden and your landscaping. Along with that, Satan is the dirty weed that keeps pooping up in our garden or in this case our lives. We have the tools to to pluck him out by the root, although he will continue to try to pop up elsewhere in our "garden" if you will.

The Holy Spirit is our best "Round Up" for Satan. Galatians 5:16-18 says:
So I say, live by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the sinful nature. ¹⁷For the sinful nature desires what is contrary to the Spirit, and the Spirit what is contrary to the sinful nature. They are in conflict with each other, so that you do not do what you want. ¹⁸But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under law.

This gives us power over the weed. Although we have power over the weed, it will continue to try to pop up in all areas of our garden. We must be prepared to pluck out the the evil root as soon as we see it sprout. We have the best protection available as we engage in hands on combat with the "weed". .Ephesians 6:10-17 tells us:

¹⁰Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. ¹¹Put on the full armor of God so that you can take your stand against the devil's schemes. ¹²For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms. ¹³Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand. ¹⁴Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness in place, ¹⁵and with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace. ¹⁶In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. ¹⁷Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.
We've now established we have the tools and protection to wage war on the weeds in our garden. What about prevention Are there preventive measures. Certainly there are. For one, prayer. Pray on all things for the weed can't stand prayer. In addition, Ephesians 5:15-20 states:

¹⁵Be very careful, then, how you live—not as unwise but as wise, ¹⁶making the most of every opportunity, because the days are evil. ¹⁷Therefore do not be foolish, but understand what the Lord's will is. ¹⁸Do not get drunk on wine, which leads to debauchery. Instead, be filled with the Spirit. ¹⁹Speak to one another with psalms, hymns and spiritual songs. Sing and make music in your heart to the Lord, ²⁰always giving thanks to God the Father for everything, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ. Preventative measures indeed!

So in life we are born in spring and throughout our lives we wage war and are fitted with the gifts of our Lord and Savior with everything we need to get the weeds out of our garden. The weeds will always be there and therefore we should always be ready to tend our garden. When winter comes, our garden certainly needs to be, not necessarily spotless or without scars but it better be cleaned with the Blood of Christ and the gifts our Lord has provided. Summer is upon us folks and for some, Fall with Winter quickly approaching. How's your Garden looking today?

"Unspecified violation of team rules" - Well said coach!

2010-04-21T10:49:00.000-07:00

There's a lot of Rumbling in the state of Georgia as to why Coach Mark Richt dismissed troubled quarterback Zach Mettenberger form the team this past Sunday. Some folks suggest Richt might be hiding something or that he's making an example out of Mett to show his tough stance on disciplinary issues. I think Richt can be tough on these kids when he has to. I don't think it comes easy though.

Richt is very paternal towards his boys and though they may let him down, I have no doubt he loves each and every one of them. This trait is one of the strengths of Georgia's recruiting process. The recruit and the parent feel that the athlete is in good hands. I certainly would rather my son going to work for a leader with good Christian values such as Richt. Especially one that knows a thing or two about winning.

Back to Mettenberger. I assure you the silence and the vague description as to why he was dismissed is for the benefit, protection, and respect of the young man. I'm sure Mettenberger has a lawyer who is working diligently to put together a defense. Slinging crap across the media Spurrier style certainly isn't going to do anything to help the integrity or the future of this young man.

So what exactly did Mettenberger do?
There is nothing to gain for the program or the athlete to go into any further detail other than "it was a violation of team rules". That's enough. However, for those of us that are simply curious or plain nosey, we may never really know. We know he was on Spring Break and was in Valdosta to see the spring game for VSU where some of his friends played ball. While there he went out doing what college kids do. But not what Division 1 starting quarterbacks do (or should do). I can tell you this. Mett according to record was charged with underage possession of alcohol, disorderly conduct, obstruction and two counts of possession of false identification. Two fake ID's?? Seriously??

Although it was long ago, (1989-1991) I did go to college in Valdosta and while there, I lived in the very same small town of Remerton. I lived a mere par four from where the incident took place. Remerton is a SMALL town consumed on all 4 sides by the city of Valdosta. It's about the size of 2-3 normal city blocks at best. It is nothing but a bunch of old mill houses and apartments now used as rental housing primarily occupied by college students.The outer perimeter on the main road leading to the campus is Baytree steet and there you will find several bars and popular hangouts for the college kids. The only thing that has changed since I was there is that there are more bars to choose from. As small as Remerton is, it does have it's own police force. When I was there it consisted of one full-time squad car and it's officers were not unlike Barney Fife. Things may have changed since then but somehow I doubt it. When I lived there I was hell on wheels, wild as a bobcat, and full of piss and vinegar. The most trouble I ever got into was trying to outrun Barney one evening after running a stop sign. They shook their finger at me and gave me a ticket for running a stop sign after I assured them I had no idea they were in pursuit. Stop signs are what they were notorious for. They certainly were not known for pestering drunk college kids. That would be like herding alley cats. My point is to get in trouble here you pretty much had it coming.

If you're in a three way competition to be the starting quarterback for a Division 1 program rule number one is you keep your nose clean. Discipline has to start with your leaders. When the news broke about Mett in trouble down south, his leadership credibility was shattered. As tragic as that is its the cold truth.

I wouldn't be surprised if we see Mett end up quarterbacking at a university in another division. Particularly and ironically enough, I'll predict Valdosta State University. He already has buddies in the program and they would be crazy not to go after him. So, Maybe we can see a re-birth in Mettenberger. Maybe he can rise from the pile of ashes he left in little Remerton Georgia.

Who was I ?? Who are you?

2010-04-14T08:50:00.000-07:00

I got a call from an old friend a couple of weeks ago that I don't talk to often. I haven't seen him in 10 years and he only lives about 43 or so miles away. I love the guy and miss him very much in so many ways. One might ask why haven't I seen him in 10 years? Why don't we hang out?

The answer is simple. My friend is a RAGING alcoholic in denial at its best. He's a poster child I tell you. He's smart as a whip and charming as the devil when he's not drinking. He's highly educated from a VERY reputable university yet he lives within a career that requires no education and certainly isn't what I would consider a stable, dependable income during these times. I may seem very judgmental here but I know an alcoholic when I see one. My mother and sister both are successful recovering alcoholics. I see what a difference sobriety has made in their lives.

You might ask If I'm against drinking. The answer is no, not at all. Although I don't generally drink, I'm not going to say I won't ever have an occasional drink. It could happen. What I am against is the Jekyll and Hyde effect alcohol has on my good friend. I simply do not like him when he's drinking. During the last year or so of our "hanging out", he was usually drinking, thus, I usually didn't care much for him. If it continued I was going to react in a way that would destroy our friendship. His behavior was also putting a strain on my marriage to a degree.

So I isolated myself and my family from my buddy. I quit calling him. I quit taking his calls. I knew the best thing I could do was to let him go and find a way to hit rock bottom. That hasn't happened yet. Nevertheless I got a call from him and we spoke and he tended to talk to me as if I were still the same party animal I was when we met some 16 or so years ago. I finally got a chance to tell him what was going on in my life. I told him about my growing relationship with Christ and the awesome church I go to. He said he was very happy to know I was going to church because he always thought I was an atheist. This hit me like a brick and I chuckled a bit. I had been saved several years before I ever met my friend but obviously I was so lost from my relationship with Christ that one of my best friends never even knew I believed in God. So I have to ask "Who was I"? Answer: I was a lost Christian that never knew how to have a relationship with Christ and never knew how to live for Christ. At least I thought I was a Christian. I was saved, I was Baptized. I was NOT living a life in Christ. Was I a Christian blinded by sin? Today, I think everyone knows who I am.. I am Vic Webb and I serve my Father in Heaven. I certainly can't be mistaken for an atheist.

Now I ask you. Who are you. What do your closest friends know about your faith. What do you know about theirs? If you're blinded by sin or not a Christian at all, what are you going to do about it?

My friend got a text from me inviting him to church. He did say he would come visit if I invited him to church. So far he hasn't come. Maybe he doesn't text. I'm going to finish up here and give him a call. He needs to see who I am. He needs to see Christ in me. I can only pray that he likes what he sees.

Woooo Hoooo!! Gandalf's coming!!

2010-03-15T06:22:00.000-07:00

In Season 4, Episode 9 of the forever cult favorite "Friends" series, Ross and Chandler get a call from a college chum they affectionately refer to as "Gandalf". Gandalf is obviously a nickname in reference to the wizard in the "Lord of the Rings" series, adored by nerds everywhere. Now, am I saying that Ross and Chandler are nerds? Yes, to a degree I certainly am but no more than I would consider myself because I, like much of America, relate to these two characters, particularly those of us that matured during the 80's. This post is about Gandalf and his importance not in the fight between Good and Evil on "Middle Earth" as in LOTR, but the very same battle on our very own Earth. Our Lords Earth.

Let's start by identifying WHY Gandalf of "Friends" is nicknamed such. Here, the old college buddy is the "wizard" of good times. Gandalf knew where to find the party and everyone followed him to get there. Gandalf led others to the most outrageous, rock and rolling good times imaginable. In Episode 9, Gandalf cancels his trip to New York to the disappointment of Ross and Chandler. His influence is still so strong that even in his absence they try to simulate what Gandalf would have done with the help of Joey. Obviously with age and lifestyle changes they fell short of expectations, but the fact is, that Gandalf had such a strong influence that these dorks were led to his example even when he wasn't there. That right there is leadership.

Now in my life I have known my Gandalfs and to others, I assure you I have been the Gandalf. There is no Gandalf shortage to help find a night of sinful good times. However, what if Gandalf got saved. What if our Lord were able to use the wizard to influence others and to lead them not to a crazy drunken good time, but to an eternal life basking in the Glory of our Savior. Through Christ, could Gandalf have such profound influence that in his absence the Chandlers and Ross's try to emulate him?? The answer in short, NO. But Gandalf can have the influence to introduce them to Gods party and in turn, when Gandalf is absent they will strive to be like HIM. They will strive to be Christ like.

In this past weeks church sermon we had the opportunity to write down a name of a person that needed Christ in their lives and then come to the altar to pin it on a cork board so these names could be prayed over. The name I wrote down may be confusing to some but to me it was clear as a bell: Gandalf. I pray that the Gandalfs in our communities find Christ, so they can bring people to Jesus through leadership. Can Jesus put a wizard to good use? You bet he can. He already has.

It's your fault.........but whos' responsibility??

2010-03-08T12:40:00.000-08:00

Our Pastor recently gave a sermon on responsibility, accountability, and fault. I thought it to be worthy of mention here. Particularly for those who did not hear this message, I hope you get the concept from the following:

In Joshua Chapter 9, we see Joshua deceived by the Gibeonites. At this time Joshua had identified the surrounding lands as that of the people he would conquer. In order to prevent an Israeli invasion the Gibeonites pretended to be from a far land and requested of Joshua a treaty, so they might be servants to the Israelites. Under the impression they were from a far away land and not from the nearby hills, Joshua honored a treaty. Three days later, when Joshua discovered he had been deceived he still honored the treaty he had agreed upon in the eyes of God. Although the Gibeonites were at fault with their deception, Joshua took responsibility for his own part in allowing himself to be deceived. He could after all, have investigated these people further and seen through the elaborate plan of deception.

Through this Joshua was blessed as he acknowledged his responsibility as witnessed by his Lord Almighty and in turn the Lord saw to it that Joshua found the strength to honor his commitment to the Gibeonites and to be victorious in doing so.

Through this we see a clear difference between fault and responsibility. How often are we wrong and at fault and we leave someone else to pick up the pieces because we didn't take responsibility. Here someone else is taking responsibility for our faults. Consider when someone is at fault and others carry that burden, that pain, that punishment.

God will bless us when we take responsibility. He will give us strength to make our wrongs right and to work through the burdens of our own undoing. When we are at fault and fail to take responsibility we are not with God. Fault without responsibility is a curse on those that fail to acknowledge that they have made a mistake. The absence of accountability is the choice to carry the burden of a curse rather than the blessing of God through responsibility.

So, have you made mistakes in life? Can you think of recent examples in your life where it's your fault? Did you take responsibility? Are you in a place right now where you can take responsibility but the thought of doing so is overwhelming? Take the responsibility. Our Father will take the "overwhelming" away. He will lift that off your shoulders or at least lighten the load so that you can manage.

Are you at fault???.............or are you responsible????? Huge difference.

The Tiger - Hunter Has Become The Hunted

2010-02-19T06:26:00.000-08:00

For months now Tiger Woods' sexcapades have been on the cover of every trash tabloid as well as on the forefront of all other media, in which in today's world has become as trashy as the previously mentioned tabloids. The thing that troubles me is not that this is a story for the media to report but how huge they have made it. Obviously someone cares because otherwise it would die down. I'm going make a case for Tiger here and through it I might even argue with myself a bit but stick with me anyway.

First lets look at the facts. What has Tiger done that was so horrible? Well, he cheated on his wife.........a lot! He has been a man whore like there is no tomorrow no doubt. However, he is certainly not the first celebrity to do so, yet I have never seen anyone crucified so badly for doing so. Crucified by the media, the fans, his peers and himself. Tiger woods is a rock star. He has fallen into a rut that many rock stars fall into. Why is his situation such a big deal to us. Why does he have to make a public statement. He doesn't have to say anything to me. Just go play GOLF! That's all I want from him. I don't give a rat turd if he is addicted to the snozz. I'll pray for him and hope he get's his life and salvation on the right path, but the ONLY ones he owes an apology, explanation, or statement to is: his wife, his kids, and God. It is none of our business and I for one, am sick and tired of hearing about it.

I see some of his peers on the golf tour tearing at him from several angles. Ernie Ellis commented that he was selfish in choosing the golf event this weekend for his platform to make a statement. HEY!!......he's coming back to play this weekend and WE have made him feel like he MUST say something to US before he can play. Others on the tour act like he's done something so horrible. A gentleman's game golf is but don't you dare act like Tiger's the first country club gigolo. Many have gone into the spotlight of fame at a young age. Many drunk with the power of being a celebrity have made poor choices just as Tiger. None have ever been dragged through the coals such as this. What has Tiger done to you?? For one, he has brought Golf to the front line of popularity so those that slander him also have the opportunity to have their two faces seen on the television as well. It's not the time to beat your comrade down. It's time to lift him up, brush him off, show him some love so he and the PGA can recover from the spectacle that the MEDIA has made of this. John Daly went on a downward spiral of substance abuse making several "comebacks" but we never tore him apart like this. Shame on all of us.

Tiger, tell your kids and your wife that you're sorry, you love them and pray for forgiveness. Tell the rest of us to kiss your ass!

Scrappy

2010-02-05T05:52:00.000-08:00

I have often heard stories of modern day miracles. Stories that seem genuine coming from the teller but are so far fetched you are left doubting the credibility of its' source. Today I have such a story to share. It's not my story to tell and I'm not quite sure it's completely played out but it is something I have to share because I am in awe.

I'll start some 13 or so years ago when my oldest daughter was just a toddler at best. We are at home one Sunday evening (it was Sunday from my best recollection) when we get a call from a family member telling us that my wife's younger brother of one year has been in an accident. He had been driving a rail buggy on a sandy dirt road and it flipped. He wasn't wearing a seat belt and was ejected from the vehicle. As it rolled the bar from the roll cage came down across his back and broke it stretching his spinal cord some six inches. Scrappy we will call him, because he is as full of piss and vinegar as much as any I have ever seen. He would just as soon fight you as he would..........well, you place you own word in here. Born with swamp water in his veins, he was what we in the south call a "sport model". As we got this call on this unfortunate evening we learned that the accident had left him paralyzed from about belly button down. My wife was devastated as were we all.

Scrappy however, seemed to keep his spirits up, at least in the face of others. He was quick to joke about his own misfortune and no less scrappy than he ever was. His life had become however a endless battle with his health. Scrappy was a thin fellow but deceptively strong. Corn bread strong is what some in these parts call it. Nevertheless, as thin as he was, there simply wasn't enough meat on his ass to act as a shock absorber to bear the weight of his body in the wheel chair. This resulted in bed sores, infection and eventually the loss of a leg about 5 years ago. As the leg was lost it also added to the mix some digestive issues with bodily function. Still Scrappy was Scrappy and I assure you he would still slap anyone that he felt needed a slap.

Scrappy faced several more complications over the last several years ranging from kidney stones, infections, and lately some sever digestive issues causing blockages. This required yet another surgery. This one was so bad and the infection so intense that when they opened him up , they had to leave him open for weeks with a synthetic barrier to protect his insides from external invaders. In a very dangerous situation he pulled through and was able to go home for the holidays. After about a month at home Scrappy became ill once again and was immediately rushed to the hospital. My wife got another call on a Sunday evening. This time the news was grim. Scrappy's body was septic and without going on a ventilator and feed tube he was a goner. Scrappy made it clear that he did not want to go on a ventilator ever again. We rushed home some three to four hours away depending on the drive through Atlanta. We rushed so my wife could see her brother before he passed away.

When we got there it wasn't pretty. Scrappy was taking between four to seven breaths a minute. Someone on the medical staff (who should be publicly stoned) told family members that there was no brain activity based upon test results. The ICU waiting room was full of family and friends that had come from everywhere to say farewell. Stories of all the crap he had gotten into over the years filled the waiting area and one wonders how he was still alive that day. Through the entire night, nothing changed. Monday came and went and everything was the same. No IV, no water, no food and a frail body at about 70 pounds considering the missing leg. Jamie was able to respond long enough to confirm he just wanted to go home. Tuesday night he went home with hospice care. We drove back home so we could get back to work knowing that we would likely be driving back at any time. Prayer request were out nation wide and as far off as Australia for Scrappy and the family.

Wednesday morning came and something changed. Scrappy, who most everyone had given up on sat up in bed and said" I'm not going to just lay here and die!! I want a second opinion. I'll go on the ventilator if I have to, cause I want to fight this". Well alrighty then! To make a long story short, today is Friday and as of yesterday Scrappy is sitting up in bed, eating and the doctors can't find any infection. There is no logical explanation and as for me, I can not be convinced this is anything but a miracle.

I also learned yesterday that some friends witnessed to Scrappy the day before he went into the hospital and that he accepted Christ as his savior. That would explain a lot. I certainly hope Scrappy takes this opportunity to tell his story to witness to others. What an incredible holy warrior Mr. Scrappy can be. Like I said earlier, this isn't my story to tell but I had to share it. It is too amazing not to. I am in awe at the power of our Lord. I am humbled by the will of the human spirit as it is gelled with the holy spirit. Welcome back brother...........and God bless.

Scrappy isn't out of the woods yet and still has some recovering to do. Please join me in praying that our Father is able to work through Scrappy for years to come.

One Hundred

2010-01-28T05:52:00.000-08:00

For the last three weeks, I have made some pretty major lifestyle changes. For one I'm eating healthy. To be more specific, I'm on a diet. Luckily for me I like healthy foods as much as unhealthy ones or at least almost as much. I do tend to "miss" certain things that I am currently not eating after a while. Usually this is where my weight loss fails to continue and generally the tide comes back in, bringing the fat with it. So far I have lost fifteen pounds. This brings me to my second lifestyle change which is exercise. I get up at 4:45 AM every morning during the week and head to the gym. I have done this for a while in the past and after a while it has failed. Something is different this time. Something kicks me out of bed every morning. Something makes me say no to a cheeseburger and a milkshake. That something is inspiration and for me it comes in two sources. Certainly the biggest inspiration is our Father in Heaven to which I have prayed to give me strength and determination. I know both how to be abased, and I know how to abound: every where and in all things I am instructed both to be full and to be hungry, both to abound and to suffer need. I can do all things through Christ which strengthen me. Philippians 4:12-13. So far he has answered my prayers and then some. The other source of inspiration is earthly. This post is a dedication to him.

Normally I don't mention anyone's real name for obvious reasons but in this case I am, because Tommy wants me to. He has reached a milestone that he's proud of and he should be. I'm proud of him. Tommy Keener has lost 100 pounds as of this morning. I asked him how long it took and coincidently it is the same as my goal: One Hundred pounds in two years. His favorite answer when people ask him how he did it is "I don't eat so much" and as true as that may be the fact is he has worked his butt off for two years, literally. I saw him work like an animal today to get that last and final pound. Obviously the closer you get to the goal, the harder it gets. You have to keep pushing yourself. I'm up for that now. Tommy was about the same size as me when he started. Today, as Tommy would say, "not so much".

This morning Tommy Keener, the tall slender fellow he has become, is probably walking around eating a donut calling everyone "chubby" or "biggun". He has earned the right to do so if you ask me. Good job Tommy and God bless!

Rats, Desperation, Dawgs, and Dog Tired

2010-01-22T07:55:00.000-08:00

Man have I been busy. There have been a LOT of subjects for me to write about, so I'll try to get a few into one entry here. I'll go in order with the title:

Rats. I have lived in my house since 1995 and have never had a rat until recently. I started seeing him a couple of weeks before Christmas. I have been trying to catch and/or terminate the rodent ever since. I immediately waged was on two fronts: "Bait and destroy" and "Ambush the Path". "Bait and Destroy" is simply a large traditional spring trigger rat trap baited with peanut butter placed where the rat would go but my kids and dog would not. It didn't work well for every morning the trap was sprung and the peanut butter licked clean. I think maybe my dog was going where it shouldn't. "Ambush the Path" is a couple of those HUGE sticky mats that you put on the floor and when the rat steps on them they are stuck. I placed them behind furniture and in a storage closet by the hot water heater where I had seen some rat turds. They sat there for weeks before I caught anything and when I finally did I walked in to find our dog, a Shih Tzu, with all four feet stuck laying on her side whimpering. It was not easy removing the trap from the dog. Finally this week I was able to pinpoint the location of the beast's entry into the house. I then took the Spring trap, baited it and closed the door to the kitchen area just enough for the rat to get through. On the kitchen side of the door I placed the baited trap so that the little monster had to step on the trap to gain entry. The next morning I had success. It was a combination of "Bait and Ambush" that did the trick. It took me over a month to out smart a rat. The trap put the vermin out of my misery and I felt like the great white hunter. In case you're wondering, I am NOT talking about mice. I am talking about a 12-14 inch long RATS, tail and all. If they were any bigger I would be catching Possums. The next day however my wife discovered that the rat had an older brother. This morning I slayed him as well. It was not a possum but it is getting close. We will see what happens tonight for I am now a rat killing machine.
Desperation. In my 43 years, I don't ever remember devastation like we are seeing in Haiti. My heart breaks for these people. There is pain and anguish on so many faces. There are so many orphans. There so much chaos that even the billions of dollars of aid cannot be distributed fast enough. God please give them strength.
Dawgs. We got a new Defensive Coordinator and a Defensive Backs coach. It will change UGA to a 3-4 defense as opposed to a 4-3. Very physical and it will bring the heat. I am happy with both hires and I can't wait for Labor Day Weekend. Go Dawgs!
Dog Tired. I have been getting up at 4:45 every morning to go to the gym and I have been working HARD!. In addition, much of my spare time has been spent volunteering at the church. With so much activity, my body is slow to adjust to the change. God has given me the strength to do it all so far. If it was all up to me it wouldn't be happening.

In closing, I have been busy and now you know why. To all you Dawg fans that might read my BLOG, I want to make a recommendation for some good reading. This comes from a writer that blows away everything we get from the sports columnists at AJC(Atlanta journal Constitution). To make it sweeter, it is written by a lady that knows more about football that most of us fellows. She is ALWAYS on top of the UGA football scene. I don't know how she does it. Here is her blog: theladysportswriter

That's all Folks - God bless

Save the last dance for "T"

2010-01-13T07:03:00.000-08:00

Youth is where we learn so many lessons in life. Betrayal, humility, regret and remorse are among a few. I am reminded of a homecoming dance in high school that took place at a school across town.

My buddy, "D" we will call him, had it bad for a girl, "SC" we will call her. She went to the cross town school and she had an "on again-off again" boy friend, in which she was going to the dance with. D had been stirring things up pretty good for the couple and they were on the edge for sure. D had to get to that dance and would stop at nothing to make it happen.

D was a fun guy to be around because he was always getting into something over his head. I simply couldn't resist hanging out just for the pure entertainment value. You also never new what was on his agenda because he was a snake in every sense of the word. If Eddie Haskel from "Leave it to Beaver" was reborn, he would pierce his ear and call himself D. There happened to be a girl, "T" we will call her, that was quite smitten with D and he very much knew it. She was an awesome girl, pretty as can be and much too good for the likes of D. A Volunteer at the local retirement home and the 4th Annual Farm City Festival Queen, she was a sweetie some might say. Still, the girl can't resist the bad boy can they? Nevertheless, she asked D to the dance and he didn't hesitate to accept because he certainly had nothing to lose.

Shortly into the dance, SC and her boyfriend have the usual fight and he storms off with buddies to try to score some beer. Obviously, he too was also a bad boy. D didn't waste a second to swarm all over SC to console her, all the while leaving T sobbing by the punch bowl. D was certainly a jerk and even I was amazed when he left the dance with SC, after bringing T all that way.

There was a nice fellow named "P" at the dance that was about as sharp as a bowling ball, but a big physical freak. P reminded me of "Moose" from the "Archie" comics, a certified knuckle dragger but good as gold. When he saw T crying by the punch bowl he went to see if she was OK. When she told him what D had done, P was all over him, quite literally. To make a long story short, D got what he had coming and T came out OK in the end. I didn't actually see the massacre but I was told that besides a broken forearm, D had two broken ribs, a concussion and a fractured jaw. Bystanders said T broke the ribs herself with a swift kick to the gut. I didn't particularly care for T myself because she was from the wrong side of the tracks. Plus I knew she wasn't very bright for pursuing D in such a way to begin with. D, the poor son of a gun, just didn't know any better.

T was very popular gal and learned a good lesson that night as did D. I hear she ended up marrying a doctor shortly after she graduated from college. D is somewhat of a celebrity himself. You can see his picture on the Georgia Department of Corrections website. From my understanding he was a purse snatcher with an addiction to prescription pain killers. Ironically P is a corrections officer at the same facility. Life is funny huh??

So, Lane Kiffen has just left Tennessee by the punchbowl and hauled ass to Hollywood with USC. I can't wait until P catches up to him. Karma is a wonderful thing.

I am certainly no Tennessee fan. However, I am an SEC fan and have said Kiffin was an imbecile all along. So to my SEC friends to the north, you are better off without him and I wish you a speedy recovery. By the way I think D is a Tennessee fan. The last time I saw him he was wearing orange!.....Go Dawgs!!!!

A Lesson in Judgement, Humility, and the Love of Christ

2010-01-05T08:17:00.000-08:00

Here is yet another reason that ANYONE is welcome at Rock Bridge Community Church. I can admit that if they will open the doors to the likes of me and change my life, then anyone else is welcome too. We strive to be Christ like. Let me repeat a sentence with one simple change that holds all the truth. I can admit that if He (God) will open the doors to the likes of me and change my life, then anyone else is welcome too. No one is too "bad" to give their life to Christ. There is none too evil. The book of Luke is abundant with examples of Christ reaching out to those who were self condemned or condemned by others. If you open your heart to hear what the word of God is telling us, it's as clear as a bell. Here is yet another example:

Jesus Anointed by a Sinful Woman ( LUKE 7:36)

      One of the Pharisees asked Jesus to have dinner with him, so Jesus went to his home and sat down to eat. ³⁷ When a certain immoral woman from that city heard he was eating there, she brought a beautiful alabaster jar filled with expensive perfume. ³⁸ Then she knelt behind him at his feet, weeping. Her tears fell on his feet, and she wiped them off with her hair. Then she kept kissing his feet and putting 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 what kind of woman is touching him. She’s a sinner!”
   ⁴⁰ Then Jesus answered his thoughts. “Simon,” he said to the Pharisee, “I have something to say to you.”
   “Go ahead, Teacher,” Simon replied.
   ⁴¹ Then Jesus told him this story: “A man loaned money to two people—500 pieces of silver^[i] to one and 50 pieces to the other. ⁴² But neither of them could repay him, so he kindly forgave them both, canceling their debts. Who do you suppose loved him more after that?”
   ⁴³ Simon answered, “I suppose the one for whom he canceled the larger debt.”
   “That’s right,” Jesus said. ⁴⁴ Then he turned to the woman and said to Simon, “Look at this woman kneeling here. When I entered your home, you didn’t offer me water to wash the dust from my feet, but she has washed them with her tears and wiped them with her hair. ⁴⁵ You didn’t greet me with a kiss, but from the time I first came in, she has not stopped kissing my feet. ⁴⁶ You neglected the courtesy of olive oil to anoint my head, but she has anointed my feet with rare perfume.
   ⁴⁷ “I tell you, her sins—and they are many—have been forgiven, so she has shown me much love. But a person who is forgiven little shows only little love.” ⁴⁸ Then Jesus said to the woman, “Your sins are forgiven.”
   ⁴⁹ The men at the table said among themselves, “Who is this man, that he goes around forgiving sins?”
   ⁵⁰ And Jesus said to the woman, “Your faith has saved you; go in peace.”

Nuff said!

The Grout, the Cheesecake and the Nose Goblin.

2010-01-04T06:42:00.000-08:00

< WARNING - some graphic content is not suitable for some readers >

So it has been a while since I posted, which means for the most part that I have been busy with a mix of Holiday Cheer. Today, without getting very fancy, I will catch you up on some of the noteworthy things that have transpired over the last few weeks:

For three plus weeks, my wife and I, along with some help of some awesome friends, have remodeled our kitchen. It looks fantastic and we are loving it. It was a small narrow kitchen complete with 1978 compress board counter tops and drawers that worked as well as a derailed train. We replaced the counter tops and tiled new ones in and did a great deal of carpentry and painting. We put down a temporary floor that will do until we tile the kitchen and dining area this spring. It was a lot of work and my body still has not recovered.
Christmas came and went. It was very nice this year as my ultra cool mother-in-law and good buddy Ethan came up a spend the holiday with us.The kids racked up and Alisha and I got an awesome kitchen. ( I also got some great XBOX 360 games.) We had a dinner party with great friends to break in the new kitchen on Christmas day.
The week between the holidays, I had a very minor surgery on a toe.( I almost passed out and vomited during the procedure - what's up with that?) The rest of the week I volunteered with decorating the new ministry building at Rock Bridge Community Church.
During a recent message at church, the pastor made a statement that he rarely sees things that people do that astonish him yet the work of God astonishes him on a regular basis. I tend to agree. Until the following Monday as my daughter and I are pulling into the parking lot at our local Hobby Lobby. ( yes we are the artsy fartsy kind of folk.) As we pull in to park, the car directly in front of us had a fellow in the passenger seat that did not seem to notice us pulling in, as his pinky finger was submerged into his right nostril to the hilt. I said to my oldest daughter who was in my passenger seat "Look at this guy picking his nose." No sooner did she look up, when he pulled out a keeper and proceeded to dine on it. Yes, this grown man of about 45-50 years old, ate a booger in broad daylight in front of all who witnessed. Needless to say, I was astonished!
My good friend and Pastor G (Gus that is) went to New York between the holidays and when he returned brought back some cheese cake for those who put in special requests. Now this is authentic "Cheesecake de New Yorke" and is to die for. It was also my first time tasting this heaven in a box. The problem is that I got it on Sunday afternoon after church and after lunch. The following Monday(today), I am committed to starting a diet and making some real changes in my lifestyle. Yesterday was certainly not today and I attempted to eat the whole cheesecake before bed time. I managed to get down two thirds in about 6 hours in an act of pure gluttony. I didn't want such a fantastic desert to go to waste and no one else in the house yesterday liked cheesecake. I hope my oldest daughter will finish it off today. Nevertheless, when I woke this morning, my esophagus felt like it was still packed with cheesecake and it was all I could do to not vomit. I am so glad I didn't think about booger man.
The Dawgs whipped the Aggies in the "toilet bowl" and showed us that we are indeed better off without Willie Martinez because we had our best defensive game of the season. I see promise for the 2010 season and I have high expectations. As of now, the SEC is break even in bowl wins/losses. I would love to see the Tide roll all over the Longhorns.

That's what's been going on for the last few weeks. Starting any day now, we will begin setting up Rock Bridge Community Church in Chatsworth, Georgia. There's lots of work to be done and I am stoked to get things going! Happy new year folks!! To all a fantastic 2010!

Forever Blue

2009-12-11T08:01:00.000-08:00

Tonight the Northside Eagles of Warner Robins, Georgia play in the state championship for the fourth time in 5 years. It doesn't seem that long ago that I put on the pads for that team and suited up for the greatest sport on earth. Actually it's been a while and it is disgusting how old I feel when I put things in perspective.

Not only am I old enough to have a child on that field but I am old enough too have one in college. When my father was my age, I was in my 4th year of college. My oldest child is 14 and my youngest 2 with my middle child 10. I still have a way to go raising my family but everything is happening too fast. My kids are growing up too fast. Yet, the past doesn't seem that far away.

I can still smell the fresh mowed grass on the practice field at Northside. I can feel the burn of the sweltering heat and humidity that would make me stagger like a drunk when it got near unbearable. I can remember the stench in the varsity dressing room where sweaty pads and equipment hung, I remember when the first cool weather of fall was welcomed on the field as it rejuvenated an otherwise tired and drained bunch of young men. I remember feeling like superman on a Friday night, tearing through a defensive line to clear the way for yardage to be made. I remember the animal rage that built up inside and how great it felt to unleash it upon the opponent. I remember the drums of the band roaring like thunder in cadence. Very rarely did we taste defeat and when we did it was as bitter as anything I've ever swallowed. I remember gathering on cold Saturday mornings after the game to stretch out soreness we had from the night before and evaluate any injuries sustained during the game. Those memories will always seem like just yesterday. God bless the young men who suit up tonight to rage war for the top prize. For those of you that will play in your last game, may this always seem like just yesterday for you as well, for the grass on the practice field always smells fresh cut.

Go Big Blue!

People Suck......God Loves Us Anyway.

2009-12-04T06:50:00.000-08:00

I was saved way back in high school. However, I didn't know how to be a Christian and probably had some misconception of what a Christian is. Although I accepted Christ as my savior I still wandered lost in a world of sin with no repentance.

In my second year of college I was baptized. Still, I had no true direction other than I needed Jesus in my life. I continued to wander lost in a world of sin with no intentions to repent. Shortly after this my life went into a tailspin of sin as I feel I had become the pure embodiment of hell on earth. I tore others apart in my sinful rampage. Not only was I not a good Christian but I wasn't even a good person. I had pushed Jesus back into a small corner of my heart and tried to forget he was there. Still, He burned on in my heart like a pilot light flickering in an unused furnace, waiting to be turned on. There was no love in my life and certainly none in my heart. At least that is what I thought.

Eventually I finished college and lived through the carnage that had become my life. I eventually focused on career and met the lady that is the love of my life and luckily for me, became my wife. We started a family and the furnace was turned on so love could burn in my heart, warming the walls of what had been a cold void. We found a church for us to go to with our first child. I was trying to be a Christian or at least what I thought one should be. The church politics became heated and festered resentment in my heart for the church and the people in it. Church is no place for politics I thought. How dare these people taint the house of God with greed, thirst for power, and the fear of the unknown. I quit going to church and started to resent everything the "church" represented or at least what I thought it represented.

As I look back now I can easily see what went wrong. Jesus never turned his back on me. People with good intentions however, failed me three times. First when I was saved but given no direction. Second when I was Baptized but not guided. Third when I turned to the church and only saw people. Unfortunately people suck. Even in the very house of God where love should spread like wildfire, the sins of people do exist. Our imperfections as such will not change and only by the love of God do we have any salvation. Without the love of God we are hopeless. That thought is what made me realize that I was as hopeless as the politics within the church. People are going to make regretful mistakes. They are going to make them in dirty alleys and they are going to make them in the house of God. Still, He loves us. He forgives us. We too often forget that we have the ability to Love and Forgive as well.

Colosians 3:12-14

Therefore, as God's chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience. Bear with each other and forgive whatever grievances you may have against one another. Forgive as the Lord forgave you. And over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity.

Of all places where people should have love, compassion, and forgiveness for each other, the church should be first. An outsider looking in should be able to see the love of God at work. It should be at work within the hearts of people as imperfect as we are. For the love of God is the only perfect thing we have. What a sin to take that for granted.

Heart

2009-11-29T18:22:00.000-08:00

This has been a season of disappointment for any Georgia Bulldog fan. As most expected a building year, it still was hard to accept some of the losses and the fashion in which they were lost. Moreover it was hard to swallow that we lost to some of the teams we fell to. It was a year of inconsistent play, turnovers, penalties and a general lack of discipline and concentration. Most of all we lacked heart. As I mentioned in earlier posts, we have had problems coming back from a negative momentum change. That is a momentum change that favors the opposing team. However, something happened of November 28, 2009 in the last game of the regular season. The Bulldogs found heart and it was a beautiful thing.

Our offense played hard nosed football and ran the ball all night long, punching the highly favored Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets right in the mouth. When GT punched us back we kept on getting after them. I can't remember a Georgia offense that passed fewer times in a game, including when Herschel Walker was plowing through defenses. We had two running backs get over 100 yards rushing in what would be the most rushing yards in a game since Richt has been at the helm. They were running as if possessed. Possessed indeed by a heart bigger than we have carried all season.

The defense, although still not as physical as I have come to expect of a Georgia team, did what it took to hold off GT just enough for us to prevail. Not enough, I would say, to save Willie Martinez's job but enough to pull out our biggest win of the season, against a very good Georgia Tech.

This was also sweet vengeance for in 2008 GT beat a better Georgia team. Last year GT beat us with heart. This year our heart was bigger.

Work with heart, play with heart, love with heart, for through man's heart the Lord will do amazing things. Go Dawgs!

Thanksgiving: Recipe for a Sweet and Sour Heart.

2009-11-23T07:48:00.000-08:00

The year is really flying by. Thanksgiving is upon us and my head is swimming in an emotional batter of salt and sugar. Let me get the salt out so I can get to the sweet stuff.

Normally I go "home" to Dublin, Georgia for Thanksgiving. I always look forward to eating with family and spending time with loved ones I simply don't get to see very often. I'm right in the middle of remodeling our kitchen. It's a Christmas gift my wife and I are giving each other. We want it done by Christmas and I have a lot to do. For that reason, I won't be making my yearly trek to Dublin for turkey. It saddens me on many levels but particularly because my family needs me there and in many ways I need them as well. Last Thanksgiving night 2008, my father was admitted to the hospital from which he would not return as he ended his battle with lung cancer. In some ways I feel relief that I don't have to face that but for the most part I feel guilt for not being there for my family in Dublin. My Mom, Sister, Step-father, Grandmother, Aunt, Cousins and more will be there with this heavy on their heart. It will be heavy on mine as well.

In addition to that I will miss out on the fellowship of hunting and/or fishing that I might have done while visiting. This will be the second year missing out on this because as my father was sick last year, there was certainly no opportunity for the things we loved to do together. I also don't look forward to back breaking labor to get the kitchen done. So there's the salt, bitter as it is.

Let us get on to the sweet stuff. Let me tell you of all I am thankful for:

First off, although I won't be in Dublin for my family, I am thankful they will all be together and have each other. I am thankful that with today's technology, I can call them throughout the holiday and tell them I love them.
I'm thankful that after years of suffering in a poorly designed kitchen that I have taken the steps to ending that misery.
I am thankful that I don't have to drive in holiday traffic through Atlanta.........twice.
I am thankful for our friends from church that are inviting us into their home for Thanksgiving dinner as our kitchen is in shambles. Cracker Barrel would have been fine but the family atmosphere is certainly welcomed this year.
I am thankful that my parents are who they are so that I became who I am.
I am thankful for the most awesome wife and kids a guy could have.
I'm thankful that this miserable Georgia Bulldog season is almost over.
I am thankful that my father is with my heavenly father.
I am thankful that one day I will be too.

No doubt it will be a bitter sweet holiday. I really look forward to Christmas so I can see everyone. It will be all sugar for sure.

Could we get a couple pounds of Pollack please?

2009-11-21T20:17:00.000-08:00

I'm watching the Georgia/Kentucky game as I write this. Georgia looked like it could do whatever it wanted in the first half. I felt good about the potential future of the team. Then there was a little momentum change to start the second half and I realized that we don't know how to get that back.

We panic, we make stupid mistakes and we choke. What does it take to gain back momentum? I'll tell you that it takes spirit, heart, and focus. All of this we lack on this Georgia team I love.....We are now fighting to prevent a loss as we are behind. Bobo calls predictable plays and Joe Cox has a crappy grin on his face when things don't work out. Three turnovers and more penalties. Two minutes are left and it doesn't look good.

We need heart. We need the likeness of Pollack on the defense. We need the focus and determination of David Green. Grinding it out and trying to get better isn't working. We stink.

Kool-Aid Part 2: Fire and Ice.

2009-11-19T06:46:00.000-08:00

Ok, I'll try to make this short. It shouldn't be a problem because there isn't that much to say.

In Kool-Aid Part 1 I spoke of how I didn't really care for the production and fabrication of energy and excitement where it just didn't feel genuine. Be on fire for Jesus yes, but don't try to motivate or move me with something that isn't pouring out from your heart. This wasn't a problem at the second church we visited. In fact for a while there I wasn't sure if there was a pulse.

As we left the service from the second church we visited and piled into the van to depart, our pastor looked around the van as to say .....well?? What did you think?" I, as I am usually glad to give my opinion, stated that I learned a few things: " Ben Stein could probably give a sermon if that guy can." In addition, the best ideas or tips we took away from the visit was how not to make people feel welcomed, and on a positive note we learned that it is very important to get good casters (wheels) to put on the bottom of your carts, buggies and other equipment transporting devices used in a portable church set-up.

It was as if someone heard me say "turn that crap down" from the visit before and took that to mean turn everything down. This is a very successful church we visited. If they can have that kind of success with that kind of effort, then I am REAL exited about what we can do at Rockbridge Chatsworth when we launch.

So, We've sampled the porridge that's too hot. We've taken a sip from the bowl that's too cold. Now I'm ready for little bears' grub that's just right. I think little bear's going to eat in Chatsworth, Georgia and we're cooking dinner.

I never thought I would say this, but I am excited about being a portable church!

Afterthought: I should always be clear that as my BLOG is titled, these are my thoughts, and my feelings and they don't necessarily reflect the thoughts, vision and feelings of my church as a collective. In addition , although I speak negatively of these other churches, let me be clear in saying they are both doing an incredible job of sharing Jesus and saving souls. They are obviously doing a lot of things right. God Bless.

Deep Roots

2009-11-13T11:06:00.000-08:00

The other day as I was reading the Bible I came across the following in Ephesians Chapter 6:

Slaves and Masters

Slaves, obey your earthly masters with deep respect and fear. Serve them sincerely as you would serve Christ. Try to please them all the time, not just when they are watching you. As Slaves of Christ, do the will of God with all your heart. Work with enthusiasm, as though you were working for the Lord rather than for people. Remember that the Lord will reward each one of us for the good we do, whether we are slave or free.

Masters, treat your slaves in the same way. Don't threaten them; remember you both have the same master in heaven, and he has no favorites.

There is so much In this passage that means so much on so many levels. First and formost it says we are all equal in Gods eyes. But what does it say about slavery. I found myself asking, "Does God condone slavery?" I had to find out more about what exactly this all means and the short answer is yes, and no. I will elaborate on what I discovered.

Slavery in the time of Jesus was much different than it is today. Slavery exist still in our modern world, masked by the evil of mankind. We in the U.S.A., are fortunate enough to say it is rare if not non-existent here. However, in third world countries across the globe it still happens and it isn't pretty. Millions of people in the world are in slavery through forced labor, sex trade, minions of drug lords, etc. Most of the time in America when we talk about slavery we think about the abduction and slavery of Africans as we founded this nation. It was wrong and we still suffer for those sins through racism and cultural segregation of our own doings. When I say "our own" I'm not talking about whites, I'm talking about people. However, that's another subject in itself. Slavery today is wrong, it's immoral, and it isn't Christ like because through the years mankind has made it something it used to not be. The slavery of a race or a people is wrong now, just as it was when the Hebrews were enslaved in Egypt. This isn't the slavery Paul spoke of in his letters. And it isn't slavery as seen by God's plan.

Slavery at a time was a voluntary means of living a better life. Folks starving in debt, might sell themselves willingly to slavery to pay off debt and to ensure that they are taken care of, for their labor in return. It wasn't really any different that being employed if Gods plan and intent is followed. Let me repeat the above again "Masters, treat your slaves in the same way. Don't threaten them; remember you both have the same master in heaven, and he has no favorites."

Men, as we always have, took slavery as it was then and meant to be, and through greed and hatred made it something bad. It's hard for me to even write this because today slavery is such an ugly word of disgust. But it wasn't God's intent. Does God condone slavery? As defined by God I would say yes. As defines by us I would say absolutely not. What do you think?

Who's Drinking the Kool-Aid?

2009-11-09T15:44:00.001-08:00

This past weekend my wife and I visited a very large, very successful church in another state. We went with leadership from our own church and our purpose was to observe things they do well, that we might adopt as we move forward in launching a satellite church in our home town. The impressive aspect of what they did, was in the fact that they set up and break down church in a local high school auditorium with the help of MANY volunteers.

As I have mentioned in past BLOGS, I am extremely happy with my church, its philosophy, and the atmosphere we create. However we realize that to keep folks on fire for the Lord, you have to shake things up, you have to take advantages of opportunities to improve and you have to be willing to fail. The church we visited this past weekend ( I won't mention the name or location because they are doing wonderful things and I don't want to place ANY negative impression on what they are doing.) is very similar to our own church in many ways, non traditional with modern Christian music rather than hymns. The Pastor is very young, very energetic and without a doubt he is bringing people to the Lord. They have grown from nil to more than 4000 members in just over 3 years. WOW!!

Here is some of what they do well:

Technology - Incredible electronics for visual and sound systems.
With that technology, an incredibly talented group of musicians leading the worship.
Volunteers.Hundreds of them make it happen EVERY Sunday. The people ARE the church.
Production: They create a great experience for first timers with greeters everywhere. They put on a show for sure.

That brings me to what I think they either didn't do well or didn't feel good to me and understand I am talking about me which may not be that significant. Here's what I didn't love:

The music was AWESOME, original and WAY TOO LOUD!!! I could feel the base from the drums vibrating my shirt. In case you thinking I'm just being an old fuddy duddy, I went to see KISS in concert a few weeks ago and they were not as loud as this church. My ears were hurting and I don't recall being offered ear plugs as I walked in. How could I take my 80 year old Grannie to this?
Energy overkill - When you watch infomercials you often see the pitch men get so exited that you know any second they are going to pee themselves. The excitement and the energy is fabricated because nobody goes ape crap for a juicer. There is a HUGE difference between Jesus and a juicer and I realize Jesus is certainly something to get exited about. However, do I believe you are that excited? I kind of got that same feeling of fabricated excitement from the pastor and the guest speaker/preacher as well. They were certainly not unlike Rock-star preachers and I was almost giggled at the stench of egos. I am all for some getting fired up for Jesus. I love it. However, I have a strong sense of genuine and I simply felt more ego than love.
There was also some methodology in which volunteers were obtained that seemed a bit militant. I won't go into any detail here but I got the feeling that if a fellow is strattlin the fence for too long that the leadership will just push them off the fence, outside the pasture and wish them well.

The one thing I can't deny here is that the formula from which they are using is working and the locals are certainly "drinking the kool-aid". I don't mean that in a bad way because after all we all end up drinking the kool-aid when we start serving Jesus. If I could sum my experience in a short thought, it would be this: It didn't seem to have something for everyone and it didn't feel sincerely genuine.

I like the flavor of the Kool-Aid at my Rockbridge Community Church. Less ego, fewer rock stars, more love for Jesus and each other. Thank you Jesus for placing me here. Cheers!

Finding Time For My Savior.......and me!

2009-11-05T07:26:00.000-08:00

I don't think I have ever been busier that I am right now in my life. With three kids ranging from two to fourteen and a reborn life in serving Christ I am a busy man and my lovely wife, a busy woman. Tired yes but probably not any more so than we have been in the past. Ironically, in serving Christ, I do have less "free time" and this has made it difficult to find time to spend praying, talking to Jesus, and reading the Bible. In addition I find myself never doing the things I love and need.

Let me tell you about what I love and miss and how it can fit perfectly if I let it, as well as tell you what I need in life.

I love to:

fish
hunt
golf

In my life I need to:

exercise
pray
relax
read the Bible

Let's see how well those marry up starting with fishing. I have the boat and all the gear and right now is the perfect time to go after some slab crappie. I haven't been going because I've been watching college football on the television (which I also enjoy) and looking after my two year old while my wife does various things with the girls (my two oldest children). I could however make plans on a couple Saturdays a month to do so or even a quick trip to the local lake after church on Sunday. Fishing is peaceful, relaxing, and is an awesome time to pray and talk to Jesus. That works well and addresses several needs.

Now for hunting, This one is difficult for me lately for several reasons. One is that I don't have a great place to hunt anymore other than public land. I am spoiled in growing up in middle Georgia and miss the easy access hunting there. I was on a hunting lease but as the economic downturn of the country is upon us, it is simply not affordable to go south often enough to justify the cost of a hunting lease. Fuel is simply too expensive. But I can hunt locally and it would be enjoyable. That activity would provide exercise. (walking up a mountain carrying a gun, a blind, a backpack and a chair is darn good exercise for a big boy like me.) It is also an incredible opportunity to not only relax but to talk to God in prayer and connect with nature. I don't know if there is anytime better to pray than sitting in the woods quietly. It is awesome. Once again a pretty good marriage for my wants and needs.

What about Golf?? I don't know that golf accomplished as much, other that some well needed exercise that I desperately need. Unless you play alone(which isn't likely) it doesn't offer much as far as the opportunity to pray and spend time with Jesus. Further, I'm a pretty bad golfer so there is an increased chance that unsavory words might flow freely from my lips. Then again, I haven't played golf since rededicating my life to Christ. Maybe golf is something I should do with my daughter who has shown interest. That way I spend quality time with her and Jesus. Now there is an awesome opportunity!

Let's try to summarize my true needs in exercise, prayer, relaxation and reading the Bible. I have covered them pretty well in the loves I have above in some very good activity combinations. However, these are one day a week solutions to my true needs at best. I need more of all of these in my life on a daily basis. My thoughts are that walking is my overall solution. It gives me my exercise, and opportunity to pray and the after effect would surely result in some true relaxation. The only thing keeping me from this seems to be energy and motivation. I'll start by praying for this. A regular walk with Jesus will be a life blessing in so many ways. Somehow this solution seems so simple yet so difficult. Sacrifices will have to be made but the payout is surely worth it. Last but least, I need to read the Bible. I think I have a solution to that as well. I'm going to get myself a nice compact Bible to keep in my office at work. I'm going to start eating self prepared healthier choices in my office and spend that time reading the Bible as I enjoy lunch. Can it really all be this simple? I think it may!! OK so I have a plan. Let's see how well I execute.

It's time for us to get fed up and put our foot down!

2009-10-28T08:46:00.000-07:00

Today I read and article on AJC.com where a Home Depot employee was terminated for wearing a pin on his work vest that said "One nation under God, Indivisible" with a US flag background. It was said that it was because that it didn't conform to dress codes and they offered to give him a pin instead that read "United We Stand". He was asked to remove his pin and he refused. I applaud him for doing so. He was fired for wearing a patriotic pin with a quote from our very own Pledge of Allegiance.

The article can be read here: http://www.ajc.com/business/fla-man-says-home-175481.html

I am sick and tired of government and corporate America pushing God out of our schools, workplace, our communities and our very lives. I'm tired of voting for politicians that stand for the self interest of political parties and supporters. I'm sick of Democrats. I'm sick of Republicans. I'm sick of lawyers hungry for the opportunity of a law suit that disputes Godly morality. I'm tired of this country losing Purity and becoming a filthy gutter slut of a nation.

Politically I'm waiting for candidates that want to return us to "One Nation Under God" again. Until then, there isn't much I can do about government. Corporately however, I can effect those that won't stand with God and Country. I promptly e-mailed Home Depot and notified them that I have been a loyal customer for 10 years. I have spent a great deal of money there and every time I did, I drove past a Lowes to get there. I told them I would now start saving on my fuel cost and begin to stop at Lowes. I'm paying off the little I have on my Home Depot account and I'm going to destroy my card. The very money that Home Depot so eagerly takes in daily has "In God We Trust" inscribed on it. Somehow they don't seem to have a problem with that. Then again, how much longer before God is removed from our currency. I assure you there are lawyers working on that one right now.

In a nut shell, nothing is going to change for the good by the hands of politicians and lawyers. We need to make the change. We make the change by taking a stand. Put your foot down America.........One Nation Under God! Indivisible.

Sidenote: Georgia Vs Florida this weekend. I'm not very confident in a win here but I do know that in the SEC, an upset is possible. I think it will either be a blow out with Florida eating us alive or a victory in a close one. Either way, GOOOOOOOO Dawgs!

One for you my Lord.......nine for me.

2009-10-20T11:44:00.000-07:00

This past Sunday our pastor spoke on a very unpopular subject: Tithes. For months now I have been "high five-ing" myself for following Gods' plan as each weeks sermon was a confirmation that I was doing the right thing. I've not been very humble and have had very little humility as I've been proud to be a "born again" Christian if you will. Wooo- hooo look at me go, look at me go! Then this past Sunday I slammed face first into the wall of reality. I am robbing God who has given everything to me.

Malachi 3:6-12
"I the LORD do not change. So you, O descendants of Jacob, are not destroyed. 7 Ever since the time of your forefathers you have turned away from my decrees and have not kept them. Return to me, and I will return to you," says the LORD Almighty. "But you ask, 'How are we to return?' 8 "Will a man rob God? Yet you rob me. "But you ask, 'How do we rob you?' "In tithes and offerings. 9 You are under a curse—the whole nation of you—because you are robbing me. 10 Bring the whole tithe into the storehouse, that there may be food in my house. Test me in this," says the LORD Almighty, "and see if I will not throw open the floodgates of heaven and pour out so much blessing that you will not have room enough for it. 11 I will prevent pests from devouring your crops, and the vines in your fields will not cast their fruit," says the LORD Almighty. 12 "Then all the nations will call you blessed, for yours will be a delightful land," says the LORD Almighty.

I'm not saying my wife and I don't give money to the church every Sunday for we most certainly do. However, we haven't been giving the money to God and most certainly not in the amount he has clearly specified. It should be ten percent off the top. That means the first ten percent and that means gross. That is Gods part. That means if you give the ten percent you are tithing. If you do not give the ten percent you ARE NOT tithing. God has challenged us to test him in this. If you tithe as God has specified you will be blessed. My wife and I live paycheck to paycheck just like everyone else. Ten percent of our salary is a big chunk of money. To tithe is a huge leap of faith. How do we squeeze blood from a turnip?? The answer: We don't, that's Gods part in all this. It is He that makes the impossible possible and it is us that must simply have faith. I don't know any way to make this happen other than to pray and just do it. The rest is in Gods hands.

I also learned that a little more than 97 percent of Christians don't Tithe by definition. There are so many of us who's money and finances are cursed. I'm getting out from under that curse. Part of me says "boy this is gonna hurt". However, I also thought being a Christian and walking with Christ was going to be a burden and it is anything but. I have faith that the Lord will meet my every need. My family will thrive under the love of God.

I have to look at it this way. It's all Gods' anyway. I'm not giving him ten percent. He's giving me ninety percent and He gave his only son to pay for my sins. I don't want to rob from God who has given me so much any longer.

Just how bad is it?

2009-10-13T06:30:00.001-07:00

Two years ago Georgia went up to Knoxville flat and lacking passion for the game. To put it simple we were not fired up. We got our tails handed to us by a team that was not nearly as good as we were. But they were better that day. Coach Richt said we would never go into another game unprepared and lacking emotion. We did it again this last Saturday and we made the worst QB in the SEC look like Peyton Manning. We were never in the game and even the Jim Donnan teams of the 90's put up a better fight against better Tennessee teams.

Lane Kiffen made the bold statement that he would see to it that Tennessee would never loose to Georgia as long as he was coaching. This man, who most of us thought was a fool coming into the season did at least keep his promise to the Vol nation so far. Our Coach let us down.

What's wrong in Athens? Well, it you break it down to it's simplest form the problems with losing are caused by one of two things:

Lack of Talent
Lack of Coaching

We have dominated in recruiting battle for the last 7 years. We have as much talent on our team as anyone in the nation. We don't have a lack of talent. We have a coaching problem. Am I ready to throw Mark Richt under the bus? Absolutely not. I was hoping Willie Martinez would not be on the travel team this coming Saturday. I also wish Bobo were coaching QB's and Richt was calling plays.

What about Coach Mark Richt himself? I love it when he is calm as a cucumber during the crunch to remain focused on the game. I do not at all like it when he shows no emotion when we are being made a fool of by a team that's got nothing but Eric Berry. I'm ready to see some snot bubbles and spit barking out of a hopping mad Mark Richt. His team needs snot bubbles and spit! Dawgs Slobber for goodness sake!

We only have one game left this year that I don't much worry about and that's Tennessee Tech. I don't know if we can stop anyone else left on our schedule. One of the worst offenses in the SEC hung nearly 50 points on us this past Saturday and at this time Tennessee Tech is dreaming big thinking maybe they stand a chance.
Everyone else is certainly coming in thinking they will beat us. We have to prove them wrong. I don't know if firing someone in mid season is the right thing to do. But I think a statement needs to be made. A simple win against Vandy this weekend isn't going to cut it.

Sometimes you can't go back home.

2009-10-08T08:28:00.000-07:00

This has been a week of reflection for me, a look back at the past. Places of precious memories stained by time. It started by going to a funeral in deep South Georgia for the death of my closest friend's father. Valdosta was a long drive for my wife and me and offered plenty of time for me to reflect. I have lived from one end of this state to the other and there I was driving that trek twice in one day. I grew up in Middle Georgia. Dublin, Perry and Warner Robins are where I spent my youth. Valdosta came about as I went there for college. I adore it all and miss many things that simply are not here in Northwest Georgia.

I thought about the Georgia coast as well. I didn't actually live there but my father did and it is probably one of my favorite places with so much natural beauty. I love those live oaks that stretch out more than they do up. I loved being underneath the canopy of a live oak, curtained with Spanish moss as my bare feet dug into the black sand and a warm breeze blew off the salt marsh. That breeze carried a sweet stench from the marsh that I would say is an acquired taste, or smell if you will. I think about the friendly folks at Shellman's Bluff. Most of the people there were not from there at all but spent the weekends there. It was as if it were a place where people went to be friendly. Time certainly slows down there and there is a sense of peace. The local restaurant at the Bluff was ironically called "Speeds", named after the family that started it many years ago. The placemats and menus, from what I remember read, "we move slow here" as a reminder of where you are and that the food was cooked fresh to order. As I thought of all this I couldn't help but wonder if I would ever go there again. I certainly hope so.

Nevertheless, I traveled the same stretch of interstate I did as a young buck in college going back to school after a weekend at home with family. I had to look hard for the things from my youthful memories. Time had covered many of these memories as trees grew taller and the general terrain changed. That's easy enough to accept because things change in time. Some of the change however is not so easy to swallow.

There have always been quite a number of billboard advertisements along I -75. Many of these served as landmarks as I journeyed up and down this highway in my youth. Stuckey's, Disney, Silver Springs and their glass bottom boats, even adds for farmers markets and fruit stands where fresh Florida oranges were always available. Although those billboards still exist, they are rare and for the most part have been replaced by something very disturbing. The have been replaced by "Strippers", "Intimate massage", the "Love Store" and an endless array of sexually themed advertisements that I can only assume are targeting lonely truck drivers that must truly be lost. However, although the trucker may be the target, it just as often misses its mark. I grew up knowing that when I saw the "King Frog" billboard, I was almost to Valdosta, or Florida if that was where I was headed. Now it is the "Lions Den" adult novelty store. The logo features two lion's silhouette in an intimate position with a gold sun backdrop. That's the memories for the kids today. There isn't just a few of these type advertisements, the highway is littered with them and it seems the further south I went, the worse it got.

It certainly had a "life in the fast lane" feel to it as if it were a road straight to hell. It is certainly a different place and far from the likeness of Speeds Kitchen where no one is in a hurry to get anywhere, particularly hell. Nevertheless, it's a different place this state I live in. At the same time, I have to ask myself "How much of this change is because I am looking at it though different eyes?" Thank you Jesus. The last time "the devil went down to Georgia" as I remember it, old Johnny sent his butt back to hell whipped and defeated. Of course this isn't factual but does hold truth because we used to give him resistance. Now it seems he owns the largest advertisement network on I-75. Why isn't this a big deal?

Sometimes you can't go back home. Sometimes it's because it isn't another place but another time. In addition, there is certainly something to "home is where you make it". Ultimately, home is where I want to go, and although it is not of this earth, I bet it will have live oaks and black sand.

Am I a spineless hypocrite?

2009-09-29T12:40:00.000-07:00

I recently finished a book called "Sharing Jesus Without Fear" by William Fay. It was a great book for a new Christian to learn about sharing your faith as well as instruct you how to bring others into God's grace. I don't intend on giving a book report today but I wanted to consider the title of the book alone as I reflect on some of today's events in my life.

I work for a large company in a customer service habitat where we have around 600 employees in the customer service division alone and professionalism is most definately a requirement. I am fortunate because it is an incredible company that is ethical, fair, and very diverse. It takes pride and places great value in diversity and rightfully so. There is a commitment to diversity to the extent of a diversity committee that raises awareness of other cultures, religions, geographic areas, etc.

Today, there was a diversity committee awareness e-mail that went to the customer service division with information of the Jewish Holiday Yom Kippur. In this communication, wherever God was mentioned it was spelled "G_d". Shortly after this went out to the masses one individual replied TOO ALL " Since when in this company are we not allowed to spell out the name of God?" Amen to that right? Following this were several others supporters in the Christian faith to also "reply to all". All 600 or so employees in customer service.

As a manager it is my job to make sure that we are professionals. To my understanding, doing a good job for your employer is very Christian like. However I can't deny that I felt that I was witnessing someone act not unlike Daniel did when King Darius outlawed praying to God. Daniel of course did so anyway and was thrown to the lions. Who am I to douse the flames of someone on fire for the lord? Nevertheless I do my job by sending the following to my group:

Team-

No doubt everyone has seen the e-mail communications concerning diversity and Yom Kippur. I think it is Great that we get to learn about other cultures. However, I would ask my group to not participate in "soap boxing" by replying to all as some have done in response to this communication. While I think it is acceptable to communicate your feelings especially when offended through the proper channels such as HR or as in this case to the Diversity Committee Chairperson, I do not think it is appropriate or professional to communicate to the customer service group as a whole, particularly in this case where individuals of other cultures or religious sanctions might be offended.

Thanks for not participating in communications of this nature.

Vic

As it happens, none of my folks were involved and I wanted to prevent it before anyone got in trouble. In addition, a well informed employee responded to all, informing them that in Jewish tradition the word God is spelled G_d, in order to respect God. It is believed that the paper the name of God is written on cannot be destroyed without disrespect to God himself and in this case, any e-mail deleted. This certainly stopped the outrage but was followed by several "reply to all" communications where Christians were verbally "high fiving" each other for standing up for their beliefs.

With all of this I am left with much conflict in my heart as I find it hard for professionalism and Christianity to co-exist in today's corporate world, where we all walk on egg shells so we don't "offend" anyone. This is especially hard where it is my job to uphold policy. Where are we as Christians today in corporate America. I'm in the same hole as the judge that can't post the ten commandments at the court house and the teacher who can't allow prayer in state classrooms. So I am lost with this. I'm asking for some guidance here. Am I a spineless hypocrite in the eyes of God? I will pray on this. I would love some comments from anyone with thoughts or insight.

Love will gain you everything......Hate won't gain you squat but a front row seat in hell!

2009-09-25T05:52:00.001-07:00

I am fortunate enough to work for a company that has incredible human value and bases it's foundation on honesty, integrity and hard work. My company encourages interaction between individuals to follow five basic principles. These principles are awesome and if applied can not only make a positive change in your work relationships but also strengthen relationships with friends, family, neighbors and even your relationship with Christ as it builds on brotherly love.

These five principles are:
1. Focus on the situation, issue, or behavior, not on the person.
2. Maintain the self-confidence and self-esteem of others.
3. Maintain constructive relationships.
4. Take initiative to make things better.
5. Lead by example.

I think anyone who is truly living for Christ does these things because they are loving interactions rather than destructive. So often you hear arguments between couples, friends, parents and kids, or maybe complete strangers, where hurtful and uncalled for things are said. Absolutely NOTHING good can come from saying things to hurt or anger another individual. On the other hand, if these five principles are used, a lot of great things can happen. These principles are not written in the bible in any literal form. However, they do represent love which is mentioned many times. Don't shame anyone into changing. Love them and pray for them to change! Incredibly, I work for a company that encourages brotherly love.

So often in the church, the very house of God, folks are tearing each other apart. These five principles if applied within a church, will make that church unite. The church becomes strong with brotherly love and mighty by the hands of God. It's as simple as deciding if you are going to let your life be filled with hate and resentment, or love and grace.

With that, what are you going to do today? Will Satan be in your heart as you destroy something dear for no good reason? Are you going to give someone a piece of your mind today? Try instead to give them a piece of your heart. Watch that grow like a seed planted in fertile soil. Maybe you can apply these five principles to your life and watch as you are blessed by the bountiful gift of brotherly love in the eyes of God.

Side notes:
UGA vs Arizona State Saturday. No need to apply the five principles here. Love them after the game. Until then, tear ass you hairy dawgs!

Also - Happy Birthday to my baby girl Sidney. 14 years old today.

"Aint No Woman Like the One I Got"

2009-09-16T12:08:00.000-07:00

Genesis 2:24 So a man will leave his father and mother and be united with his wife, and the two will become one body.

No doubt God outlined the plan for his children to follow in love, in marriage, and in life. For me, I realize this with everyday that passes. Just as Eve was made for Adam specifically, I have no doubt my wife was made for me and I for her. The initial attraction was undeniable and irresistible. Not necessarily in a form of temptation but a pure sense of belonging. At the same time I was nervous and a bit scared because I didn't quite understand what was happening to me. Yet the direction I was going was unmistakable. It is very similar to falling in love with Christ for the first time, being very nervous about the new life but unable to deny it or turn away. God modeled the love between a man and a woman after his own love.

I knew my wife was special from the beginning. I've known all along she was the love of my life and that I was hers. I've known all along that it doesn't get any better than this. I knew I had the perfect marriage! Boy was I wrong.

My wife and I have been married for 15 years and we have children ranging from 14 to 2 years old. I didn't know there could be more love in our lives until I actually GAVE my life to Jesus Christ. I accepted Jesus as my savior long ago before I ever met my wife. However I didn't hold onto his hand and walk beside him. When I was saved I don't think the evangelist quite finished the job by getting me in a church that I was at home with. At the same time I am grateful I was taken as far as I was. Still, my heart wasn't being nourished by the word of God. It seemed we would cross paths now and then and it was enough for me to know I was blessed and that I was loved. However, it was small compared to the love, life, and happiness I have with my Lord, my wife, and my kids today. I live for Him and understand the true blessings of doing so. It is amazing how it is never a burden as I thought it might be.

When I gave my life to Christ it was as if my wife was a flower that had just bloomed. I think she waited for me to come around for years. More so, she was waiting for Jesus to come around and lift me up. It breathed new life into her and has brought us closer. It's God's plan. Like the Four Tops Sing "Ain't no woman like the one I got", it is true without doubt, because this one was made for me.

So many of us don't follow Gods plan and many are further off than I was. Truth be known the farther you're off that path the worse your direction gets. This is especially important for young people starting off in life. Follow God's plan and bask in his glory. The rewards are incredible. Following your own plan can and likely will lead to teenage pregnancy, divorce, or poverty from missed opportunity provided by God himself. Luck isn't real and God is.

Ain't no woman like the one I got! However, He has a plan for you too.

Ephesians 5:31 "For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and be united to his wife, and the two will become one flesh."

New Flu Bug Worse Than H1N1

2009-09-14T05:27:00.000-07:00

There's a new bug spreading rampantly this morning consuming the world in it's sickness. I'm going to call it the H1KW. Let me tell you of its' origin.

Although I didn't watch it myself, The MTV Video Music Awards were on last night and from it rose a veil of hatred, spread relentlessly by one individual. In case you've been holed up in a cave somewhere, I'm taking about Kanye West. Taylor Swift was on stage accepting her award for Best Female Video when Kanye stormed on stage grabbed the microphone away from Taylor and went on a short rant about how Beyonce's video, which was also nominated, was one of the best videos ever. Taylor sat there drop jawed as did the rest of the nation.

Social networking exploded with posts of hate, feeding the fires of racism and resentment. Other celebrities present at the awards were "twittering"on site about the heinous act. No doubt that Kanye has his freedom of speech and can comment on what he wants, but he had NO right to take away Taylors freedom of speech by taking away her moment.

Now I obviously don't know Kanye or Taylor and I'm not a fan of either although my kids are likely fans of both. However, Kanye's actions anger me very much and I can feel hatred trying to fester in my heart. I don't like it. I despise the hatred more than I despise the action by Kanye. The seed of hate is however, what Kanye planted. He created the H1KW ( hate 1 Kanye West) virus. I'm going to fight off this virus with prayer. Nothing else will make it go away. I'm going to pray for Kanye so that he may see the fruit of his evil actions. I pray for forgiveness.

Beyonce responded later as a true class act, giving Taylor back her moment during her own acceptance time for an award Beyonce did win. It was a true selfless act during a time of self recognition.

As I write this I am still boiling with anger and resist speaking words of hatred. I have more praying to do for myself and the world, that this hatred may turn to forgiveness. Kanye you big dummy!

Made in His image......yet far from the real deal.

2009-09-10T05:53:00.000-07:00

Several weeks ago I sat on my front porch with my wife and some of our close friends( another couple) talking about church and where Jesus has led us. We discussed kids, the ups and downs of raising teenagers, and general how's life been treating you subject matter.

My friend and I have had many adventures together and there was a time that we were certainly hell on earth. At least we thought we were. Twenty years ago I certainly didn't think we would one day be sitting on my front porch talking about Jesus. My friend's wife is of strong Christian faith and the Lord no doubt has worked through her to bring my buddy to where he is now. He goes to church regularly and certainly is involved with the church a great deal. As we sat on the porch there that night, I wondered how did my buddy get here? In addition, where exactly is he with his faith. I had to ask. He loves to be asked anything about his thoughts, beliefs or opinions, because he will certainly give them to you and he won't hold back.

As he explained "where he was" is was apparent that he has come a long way in his spirituality just for the fact that he has any. Yet as he described his beliefs he also told of the things that he struggles to believe in. Things like "how can God let horrible things happen to little kids?" This is certainly a difficult question for someone such as myself that is not fully prepared or educated to bear the armor of God as needed in this situation. However, I was able to explain that the sins of the world sometimes have horrible effects on the innocent. I explained that Gods love either shields these individuals to make the stronger or perhaps they are convicted to take a different path. Still, it's earthly sin and we all bear the scars of it's sword.

Then he went to say that there is no way that he could sacrifice the life of his son for anyone. He asked how a loving God could do such. How can a loving God allow such horrors that are present in our earthly lives? Once again the sins of the earth create the horrors we have in our life, not God. Still, he stumped me with the question of how can a loving father sacrifice his son for the salvation of others. He says he doesn't feel the love of God. I did not immediately have an answer. I was stumped. I only knew that I was concerned for my buddy and that I needed to pray for him......and HARD.

Weeks later, (today) the answer for me was clear and so simple that I wonder why I couldn't present it on the porch several weeks ago. We cannot comprehend that kind of love. We cannot think like God for we are so meager in comparison to his might, his wrath, and his love. We cannot love as hard, as strongly as God can. We are not that forgiving of ourselves or others.
John 3:16
“For God loved the world so much that he gave his one and only Son, so that everyone who believes in him will not perish but have eternal life. "

While we certainly can suffer and perish in our physical life here on earth, through BELIEF, we are given the gift to continue life beyond that eternally and without the wrath and scars of sin.

In addition we too are the children of God. God foresaw this deed long before Jesus walked the earth. He sacrificed a part of himself so that we might have salvation.

No doubt my buddy will read this as I'm sure his loving wife will show it to him. I certainly won't be surprised if he wants to debate this further. He probably has more questions. That's OK because the Lord has suited me up in some awesome armor and as I pray for my friend the answers will be provided. Face it, God loves you buddy! You might as well deal with it. Oh yea........I love you too.

We Lost. So what, I got me some Jesus!

2009-09-09T07:10:00.000-07:00

I am so happy that football season is back. I am not so happy that the Bulldogs lost to the Cowboys this past Saturday. I REALLY think we should be better than them but we are not because we lost. Why did we lose? I'm not sure but here are my thoughts on the game and the team:

Joe Cox with flu like symptoms was not as good as I expected he would be. I know he is no Mathew Stafford with an incredible rocket and a long ball but I did expect some accurate finesse passing. We have incredible receivers and Joe wasn't getting the ball to them. We do miss Stafford indeed.
We have a great running attack! Too bad our play caller couldn't capitalize on this within his strategy. To bad we couldn't identify what works at halftime. I'm not sure Mike Bobo is the right guy to be our offensive coordinator. Most teams have someone in this position that is much more experienced.
Defense was not too bad. They kept a powerful offense from scoring a lot of points. They were on the field a lot and didn't get overwhelmed. They were also dealt a few bad hands with turnovers in BAD field position for us. They still missed a few given opportunities for turnovers that I think would have changed the course of the game. It did for Oklahoma State when we coughed up the ball. Can Willie Martinez keep this intensity and improve a bit more on getting some turnovers? We sure have a LOT of talent.
Stacy Searels is one of the best coaches to come through our program in a while. We need to do what it takes to keep this guy on our staff. Could he play a bigger role?

These are the things that I question about the chemistry of our Bulldogs. These are the things that I pray will get better or get resolved. I really do pray for Georgia Bulldog football.

One thing that is different for me this season as in seasons past is that I am not devastated by this loss. There is something else in my life that I am even more excited about than Georgia football. I am fired up because it is also Jesus season and it lasts all year long! I get to play for His team, I get to root for His team and I get to recruit for His team. I love Georgia football and with Jesus I can love it even more and can roll with the punches a whole lot better.

This weekend we play South Carolina. They also are lacking on offense. This could be a dud of a game to watch but I'll be watching all the same. I'll have myself a bit of prayer before kickoff and no matter the outcome I will be content. Football is back and I'm watching the game with Jesus. Feel free to join us if you like. Go Dawgs!

Crickets or Worms?

2009-09-01T08:16:00.000-07:00

Fishing in one of it's simplest yet most enjoyable forms is going after pan fish on the river. What is a pan fish? Well it's usually a term for a sunfish or similar species. Generally, it is bream or as we so often refer to them locally here in the south, shellcrackers, red breast, and bluegills. As you prepare to go catch a "mess", one of the first things one ask themselves is, "I wonder what they're bitin?". No, I didn't misspell that. We don't say biting down here when we go "fishin" and I'm trying to bring you into the setting. Nevertheless, to make sure you have a successful bite, you cover all the bases. You get crickets, some "pinks" perhaps (worms also called nightcrawlers), and possibly other seasonal creepy crawlies that the fish might like to eat. With that, you're bound to have some success given that you know how to present the bait and you don't do anything stupid to scare the fish off. The reward is an awesome fish fry complete with hush puppies, fries and coleslaw. Boy do I love the south!

This is all good but my intention here is not to teach anyone how to catch a mess of fish for dinner. The picture is a little bigger and certainly more important that that. I'm going to be the fish now. I'm swimming in a river of sin and I certainly don't want to be caught in the net of a church in which I think is full of politics, judgment, hypocrisy and void of love. Not to say I don't believe in God and Love Jesus for I most certainly do. But here I am swimming in a river of muddy water where my direction and my faith is as unclear as can be. My intention is staying away from the the lures of church which at times have become objects of despise. I've seen every bait that can be thrown my way and I'm not "bitin". Then one day, I am presented something that I've never seen before. I won't call it a bait or a lure because that is deceptive and it is anything but that. It is more of a net. I am willingly caught in this net and gently transported to a crystal clear stream where I feel love, where I want to love others, where I can be myself and still openly love Christ and share him with others without fear. It is a church without boundaries but yet a clear direction, which is the only direction. It is the direction of Jesus Christ and as soon as I willingly surrender unto his net, I am anything but caught. I am freed.

This is a church that can let go of tradition and focus on the important thing which is salvation through Jesus Christ. It is very modern and lets people be people. We drink coffee in church. I wear cargo shorts and a t-shirt to service. The music presentation is for worship and it's engaging to youth as is a rock concert. Everyone is welcomed. I see that everyone is loved. Yep, hook, line and sinker and I am forever grateful.

Why do so many other churches get it wrong in bringing someone like me to Christ? The answer is simple and we turn back to fishing for bream as I quote myself from earlier: "you're bound to have some success given that you know how to present the bait and you don't do anything stupid to scare the fish off." The reward is certainly much better than a fish fry.

^{Mathew 4:19}"Come, follow me," Jesus said, "and I will make you fishers of men."
Jesus has certainly made fishers of men at Rockbridge Community Church in Dalton, Georgia.

I now stroll up to the banks of the river. I cast out the net. But the net is no longer mine because Jesus has made me a "fisher of men".

In case you're wondering, I most certainly still love a good fish fry and will drown a cricket in a heartbeat!

side note:
Georgia vs Oklahoma State this weekend..........GO DAWGS!

We Never Left the Playground.......Did We?

2009-08-26T08:04:00.000-07:00

As an adult we easily recognize how cruel and inconsiderate children can be of each other. As tender hearted as we may think children are, I would say they are exceptionally tough to make it through childhood. I'll go ahead and say that it is likely we all carry emotional scars from childhood that have become a part of who we are today.

Let's look at the targets. There's the fat kid, the stupid kid, the smelly kid and then there's the day that you might happen to be the targeted child for what ever reason. This certainly carries on through high school and into being an adult but at some point we develop compassion and a dislike for treating others without consideration. At least we should. However, do we ever quit making fun of the less fortunate, the freaks, the afflicted, the sinners? Is sin funny? I certainly don't want to think so and my savior absolutely hates sin. Do I as a Christian participate? The fact is our society thinks sin through the actions of a sinner is hilarious. Now some of you are thinking "what in the world is this imbecile talking about?" Let me shuck it down for you.

One of the best entertainment vehicles for humor is without a doubt the television. Looking at a classic, "The Andy Griffith Show", I ask what was funny about that show. Certainly irony and a cast of dimwitted characters, but I want to focus on one character and the reason he was funny to us. Let's consider Otis. He was funny only because he was living in sin as the town drunk. How many television shows, movies, and plays have used this formula for humor through the years? Why is this so funny to us when it should be so sad?

Now I'm going to go somewhere that may anger some folks. Let me start by saying that I respect and love all but my Savior hates sin and therefore as his child I do as well and although I am a sinner I do my best to repent. Let's get back to the next example. In television today you still have the town drunk but there are other sinners that we love to laugh at in television, movies, and various other medias. In particularly, why is homosexuality so funny. How many TV shows today, don't have the token gay guy or gal. How often is "sugar britches" the comedy relief? Yes we love to laugh at these "fruit loops". I laugh at them and I find them to be hilarious. I find humor at their expense because of the sin they live in or simply the product of the sin they live in.

As a Christian, I love them and pray for their salvation. There is really nothing funny about it. Look at who's funny in entertainment. It's still, the fat kid, the dimwit, the drunk and the "sugar britches". We laugh at them at their expense and they, as grown ups, allow themselves to be exploited. No folks, we never left the playground and we never will. We are sinners as well. Praise Jesus for washing our sins away. One day we will have something better to laugh about.

Change is Change and Peanuts are Boiled.

2009-08-14T11:46:00.000-07:00

Labor day approaches and I am reminded of the arrival of my favorite time of year. Fall for me starts in September on labor day weekend although the hot Georgia summer doesn't give to the cooler weather until much later in October. I think back at Labor Day weekends of the past.

I remember sitting in the shade of a tree, hiding from the baking sun on the edge of a peanut field with my father. Opening weekend of dove season at noon and Larry Munson is on the radio talking up the Dawgs as they prepare to kick off another season of bulldog football. I sit and watch the power lines in the distance hoping a bird would be foolish enough to stop there so I could pick it off with my BB gun which later became a 410 shotgun and so on. Shotguns are popping off everywhere and I stayed pretty busy as my father figured he didn't need a bird dog as long as I can fetch birds. Snacking on boiled peanuts with an ice cold Coke was about as good as it got. Storm clouds march across the horizon like smokey giants as a welcomed cool breeze passes by in their wake. At the end of the day I would be slightly sun burned, filthy, and wore out. By the time I feasted on birds, gravy and grits I was ready for bath and bed. Good Day indeed.

Things are quite different this year. Some things have been different for a while. I now live in north Georgia and I wouldn't even know who to ask about getting in on a good dove shoot, which is harder and harder to find. Some things have just recently changed abruptly, offsetting the natural order of things. First, Larry Munson retired last year and as ridiculous as it may sound to some, it will never sound the same to me when I listen to Georgia football on the radio. This will impact the way I feel about labor day weekend. It may change the course of my direction. But it isn't the biggest loss for labor day weekend. My father passed away in December this past year. No matter if I was with him on the dove field as a kid or at home eating boiled peanuts in my own recliner, there was rarely a game day that I didn't speak with my father about what was happening at the game. We would rant about the coaches not having them prepared when we were not doing well and praise Old Glory when we were. Sometimes we would speak four or five times during the game and it was almost as if we were watching it together. I'm not sure how labor day starts this year without that. My father did solidify one thing in my life with his passing. It is the one thing that will help me to carry on. It will strengthen and guide me to provide these same memories for my own children. My father helped to solidify my relationship with my Heavenly Father.

I now move forward in my life as I walk with Christ and I know my only way to God and his glorifying love is through Him. With that, Labor Day will come and so will Georgia football. I will hopefully be by the TV but in the least by a radio listening to the next generation of Georgia Bulldog Radio. Maybe my kids will want to join me. One thing is for sure, I still have the boiled peanuts. I'll praise Jesus and I'll think of Dad and you never know, maybe it will seem like we are watching it together. Go Dawgs!

Shut up and go to work Roddy!!

2009-08-06T07:25:00.000-07:00

Football season is just around the corner. It's the time of year where I get fired up for several reasons, good and bad. Good because I'm ready for some football. Bad because of the disappointing things that happen this time of year, such as injuries and hold outs. I'm a huge Georgia bulldog fan and I feel good about where we are this year. I'm also a big Falcons fan and also like where we are there as well, with one exception.

Roddy White is holding out of training camp/practice because he wants a contract RE-negotiation. He wants more money. In particular he wants the Larry Fitzgerald kind of money. Larry is arguably the best receiver in the game. Roddy is NOT.

I will give Roddy credit for stellar year in 08 but prior to that he was a pass dropping disappointment. Further, one good year does not make for a mega star! Does he deserve an increase? Probably so. Does he deserve what he is asking for? Certainly not.

So you just hold out Roddy. There is already an injury to a starting receiver for Atlanta and with your hold out your TEAM is down two starting receivers so you can feed your greed. I certainly hope they let him keep holding out. I wouldn't give a dime more than they have already offered other than season tickets so he can watch the game from the bleachers. The Falcons have spent the last two years weeding out Prima Donna players who are not in the best interest of the TEAM. Looks like there is a little more work to do there. God Bless and let's play some football!

Tommy Can You Hear Me?

2009-07-27T06:50:00.000-07:00

As some of you may know, there is nothing more wonderful than raising kids. On that same note, there is nothing more horrifying than raising a teenager, particularly a teenage daughter. My wife and I have done a pretty good job of handling the upbringing of my oldest daughter who is almost 14. Everything kind of came naturally, that is until now. For the first time, we realize we haven't got a clue as to what we are doing.

My sweet little girl has become confronting, argumentative, and disrespectful at times. Yes, she has the potential to be a pure Gremlin. In general, the fighting happens between my daughter and my wife who understandably is reluctant to take the crap that my daughter has come to believe she is privileged to dish out. It is pretty much impossible to break through the barriers of my child's mind to get her to understand her responsibility for her actions. She doesn't understand where she is wrong and doesn't want to hear it. It seems like the same fight over and over and at times I duck my head into my foxhole until the shrapnel quits flying. Often I have to step in to fan out the smoke so everyone can see clearly. Still, the point is, my daughter doesn't hear what we are saying. She doesn't want to see her part in the problem. She doesn't want to talk about what she could do differently so that we might all live in harmony.

This is where I bring in the reference "Tommy can you hear me"? This phrase is from the rock opera movie "Tommy" based on music by The Who (1975). The Movie is about a young boy who's' father in the military, returns home one night and sees his wife with another man. The man then kills Tommy's father by smashing a lamp over his head as Tommy witnesses the whole thing. Tommy is then told by the mother and the lover that he "didn't hear it, didn't see it" and "won't say nothing to no-one". As a result, Tommy becomes deaf, dumb, and blind in order to block out the tragedy and conform to the request of his mother and her lover. The movie then revolves around the mother and eventual step father breaking through the wall Tommy has built to enclose himself from the outside world.

So there is my comparison. "Tommy can you hear me, Tommy can you see me"? My extremely brilliant daughter has become the "deaf, dumb and blind kid" when it comes to the reasoning of parenting. In addition, I'm concerned that she doesn't "play a mean pinball" in order to snap out of it. ( You'll have to watch to movie if you don't follow what I'm saying there.) Nevertheless, here I am trying to play "the miracle worker" to mediate and communicate where possible. That is, when I'm not ducking into my foxhole. Some tell me this is normal. Although I'm still concerned, the only thing I can do is turn it over to God. I pray, I love and every now and then I peep out of my foxhole. As stressful as it all can be, my faith tells me God will take care of me, my wife, and most importantly my baby girl. I also know He will give me the strength to deal with the next teenage girl who for now is nine. I pray more. I would also appreciate it if you would pray for me.

What the ?

2009-07-17T07:29:00.000-07:00

Let's say your walking down the sidewalk next to some lovely manicured shrubs and suddenly a cat runs out and between your legs really catching you by surprise. You then say "What the insert expression here ?". Now I have recently began what I will call my walk with God as my faith and relationship with Christ is at the forefront of what drives my life. I am his and I am in his hands. The same goes for you too, you just may not choose to accept it as it is or cherish the truth as I do. Nevertheless, I am new to this somewhat and only God knows what follows "What the" as the cat scares the holy crap out of me. ( I said holy crap!)

What's significant about this is that it is very likely that I will catch myself at this point from saying one of several words that one might see as being non-Christian. I don't know that I'll break down into text-book Ned Flanders and say "What the darn doodely diddely?" but I might say " What the Heck?". I might even say "What the?" and leave it at that.

For a moment let's suppose I didn't catch myself and I just let it fly, "WHAT IN THE HELL WAS THAT? First off, I'm not a bonufide scholar of the Bible, but I don't recall where it says I shouldn't say that. If such is written in the Bible please let me know so I can study this further. Second, I know that I am already forgiven. How awesome is that? But chances are I am going to catch myself and not let that slip. The longer I walk with Christ, I find that am less likely to let such slip from my cake killer.

There are several expressive words that as a society, we have deemed curse words (or cuss words as we like to say here in the south). There is the famous "S" word one might shout as they realize they just locked themselves out of the house. You know, the one that means "doody". ( I am so stoked that I got to say doody in my blog). Is the "S" word a cuss word? Is that word in the Bible? Is Doody or other representative synonym in the Bible as an abomination? I will agree that there are some words that are just ugly words representing unsavory things that you just don't want to say and much of society doesn't care to hear it. But the most important thing is, if it slips, its OK. Jesus has forgiven us and he will pick us up, brush us off and continue to walk by our side. You can bet your sweet ......ummm.....rump on that!

Slower Traffic Keep Right

2009-07-07T05:52:00.000-07:00

There seems to be some connection between my ever increasing age and my tendencies for unbridled road rage. I often have to ask myself "Do you really think you own the road?". Obviously I don't but it takes some self convincing at times, especially when there is an encounter with a rolling imbecile or blatant inconsiderate ass. I don't have the "pull over and let me kick in your teeth" kind of road rage but one that can be just as dangerous. I have the aggressive driver "I'll show you" kind of road rage. Generally, there is one driving habit that tends to set me off: Failure to get out of my way.

My father taught me how to drive. He taught me how to get where I'm going while also being considerate of other drivers. Courtesy is what I believe he called it. In particular, when you're in the fast lane of a four lane highway and someone is coming up behind you moving at a greater speed than you, it is common courtesy to move into the right hand lane to allow them to pass. This prevents a cluster of cars doing the interstate tango for however many miles it takes to break through the madness. It allows for free flowing traffic without bottlenecks. Failure to do so is failure to get out of my way and thus specifically is what usually sets me off.

I live in Murray County, Georgia. It just so happens to be the "failure to get out of my way" capital of the world. I have been living here for 15 years and I have simply never seen any place quite like it. Nor have I seen so many clueless drivers populating one area of the fine state of Georgia. On my commute to work everyday I drive from my hometown of Chatsworth in Murray county to Dalton in neighboring Whitfield county. Along this 12 mile stretch of 4 lane highway there are SEVERAL signs stating: SLOWER TRAFFIC KEEP RIGHT. They might as well have planted a shrub there as to put up those signs.

Now there is a LARGE Hispanic community in the Northwest Georgia area and they are a great addition to our diversity and culture, not to mention the fantastic labor pool we have because of them. However, very often it is a Hispanic driver that is not getting out of my way. I calm myself by saying "they don't know any better. They probably don't read English and don't understand the concept of being a courteous driver." Then I ask myself, "If all the signs at the local Wal-Mart are in Spanish as well as English, then why don't we have highway signs in both languages?". Surely this would help would it not? The answer is no, it will make no difference at all. These Hispanics have learned to drive by the examples that are already here. For every Hispanic that fails to "keep right", there are three yokel hillbilly morons doing the same thing. Understand that nine out of ten of those yokel hillbillies have a Murray county tag or a Polk county, Tennessee tag. I'll tell you about Polk County some other day. Now let me be clear in saying that I don't think all Murray county residents are idiots. I AM saying that it has more than its' share. If you are reading this, rest assured that I'm not talking about you. The folks I'm talking about probably can't read and definitely can't navigate a web browser.

As inconsiderate as they are, they are not the big problem. The big problem is me. It's my impatience, my rage, and my potential to cause an accident because I have an issue. So I now work on forgiving those "idiots". I try to remember that I love them as Christ wants us to love each other. I work on taking a deep breath so that everyone goes home safe. The Lord knows it isn't easy.

What an Exit!

2009-06-26T05:05:00.000-07:00

A sad day yesterday was: June 25, 2009. Yesterday morning the world learned that Mega Star Farrah Fawcett passed away after a long battle with cancer. When I think back of my childhood in the 70's, I can't think of ANY of my friends that didn't have THE poster. You know exactly which one I'm talking about. The front page of every news website displayed her image as the news broke and remained that way all day. That is until about 6:15 PM EST.

In my life I can't remember when someone upstaged another in death. However, that is exactly what the "King of Pop" did as the news of his death broke in the early evening on this same day. In the entertainment world, it doesn't get any bigger than Michael Jackson. It was the end of a life filled with an incredible talent, yet littered with sadness, scandal and turmoil. As I write this, the cause of death is not yet known, yet there is a sense that everyone knows what happened. The media doesn't even seem to hold back on speculation. Did Mike go out much the same as Elvis? It is very likely he did.

In addition he checked out with over 200 million in debt. How does an individual do that? As my wife said earlier this morning, in this dismal economy many corporations haven't managed to accomplish that. With his income, what can you spend that much money on. How was he swindled? How much did he pay his accusers of unthinkable acts? It is so hard to comprehend. If he had lived much longer we could probably say he had his own deficit. It would be more appropriate than debt.

Nevertheless, today the world mourns the loss of the "King of Pop", God rest his troubled soul. As for me, I certainly haven't forgotten about you Farrah. With Angels indeed.

What's going on here?

2009-06-25T12:47:00.001-07:00

This will be a random place of thoughts. My thoughts. I assure you that at times I will say very, very stupid things. However, from time to time, I will say something thought provoking as a giblet of brilliance drips from the gravy bowl resting on top of my neck.

I love people and I never want to offend or hurt anyone. However, understand that I have the potential to do so. I love Jesus, my family, and the Georgia Bulldogs. I am a 42 year old kid and love to play my x-box.

If any of these things might offend you in any way, please leave now and know that I'm praying for you.