I like to watch movies while I am working out in our backroom. I pick out a dvd that we have, or a tv series to watch. I am a big fan of the tv show "The Shield". It ran for seven seasons on F/X. I have all of the seasons on dvd. So I began to watch them while doing my workout. I usually had no problem with them. If you know the show at all, it is a bit rough and the language is suspect. Ok, it's really bad!
At the beginning of the new year, I started watching season five. I don't know what it was about this season, but it really started affecting me and my attitude towards everything. I was starting to use inapropriate language at home and at work. My attitude went from being a positive up beat person to being a negative and don't care one.
When watching my dvd's, I always have the volume turned up real loud, so I can hear over my breathing. One day my daughter got tired of my grumbling and complaining and hearing bad language, so she came out to where I workout and told me, that she didn't need to hear the show that I was watching. The bad language, the violence. She was tired of it. Tired of hearing it, tired of seeing it whenever she came out to ask me a question, tired of it affecting me and my attitude. I felt convicted. What kind of example was I setting for my daugther? Not a very good one I must admit. So she challenged me to start watching more family friendly video's while excercising. I have to tell you. It has made a difference. I always say "junk in, junk out". So I took away the trash and replaced it with something better. My daughter is pretty smart, I must say, and everybody benefits from it.
Praise The LORD!!
Friday, February 21, 2014
Saturday, January 25, 2014
Positivity!
Back in May of 2013 we hired a new employee to work in our department. Ever since that day, this guy has been getting under my skin and making work not so fun. I didn't look forward to going to my job at all. All this guy did was complain and grumble about everything. Money, hours, responsibilities, etc, etc. One of the most negative people I have ever met.
The last couple of months, I have been bringing that negativity home with me. Complaining about everything, even though everything was great. I just saw the negative instead of the positive. If you know me, that's not how I am. I try to always look for the positive in everything. Anyway, so one night I was going on and on about this and that. I guess that my daughter had enough of it. She told me that was it. No more complaining about the guy from work, or the job in general. She told me that every night when I came home from work, she wanted to hear something positive that had happened at work that day.
So on the first day, I came home and she questioned me, "so what happened today that was positive?"
I told her something that I was thought was positive for the day. She accepted that, and said that she would be asking me all week. Well it has been about two weeks now, and you know what? My whole outlook at work has gotten better. I don't complain at work as much and I sure don't complain at home about work as much.
My daughter is pretty wise and smart. I praise the LORD for that. She can see things that no one else can. She is pretty awesome, in my book!!
The last couple of months, I have been bringing that negativity home with me. Complaining about everything, even though everything was great. I just saw the negative instead of the positive. If you know me, that's not how I am. I try to always look for the positive in everything. Anyway, so one night I was going on and on about this and that. I guess that my daughter had enough of it. She told me that was it. No more complaining about the guy from work, or the job in general. She told me that every night when I came home from work, she wanted to hear something positive that had happened at work that day.
So on the first day, I came home and she questioned me, "so what happened today that was positive?"
I told her something that I was thought was positive for the day. She accepted that, and said that she would be asking me all week. Well it has been about two weeks now, and you know what? My whole outlook at work has gotten better. I don't complain at work as much and I sure don't complain at home about work as much.
My daughter is pretty wise and smart. I praise the LORD for that. She can see things that no one else can. She is pretty awesome, in my book!!
Tuesday, December 24, 2013
Christmas Traditions!
When I was a little boy growing up, our family tradtion at Christmas time was to gather at my Grandparents house on Christmas Eve. All my Aunts, Uncles and Cousins would gather for the annual party. We started out in the living room, but as we grew larger, we graduated to the basement of their house. My Grandma would worry so much about everyone getting there safely, that she would not go to the basement until everyone had arrived. This contiuned until 1989, when they both passed away. I think that Christmas was the last one where we gathered on Christmas Eve.
The following year (1990) we (the family) agreed to get together the Saturday before Christmas for our family party. My Mom and Two Aunts have taken turns hosting the festivities. I have to tell you and I'll be honest. It just hasn't been the same. We were meeting at a different location every year. And not on Christmas Eve. Myself and the two other oldest cousins had a really hard time with this. There may have been more, but I was only aware of the other two. As time went by, we adjusted to the new format and realized it was great to be able to get together with family every year at Christmas.
This year (2013) I believe was our 23rd year of this family tradition. I thank and praise God for the longevity of this, being able to get together the Saturday before Christmas as a family! God has been so good to us over the last 23 years. We have had some health issues, but we have not lost a single family memeber in all that time. On my mom's side. People have come and people have gone, but the core group of family is the same! And I thank God for that! For keeping us all together and a part of each others lives! Thank You Jesus!
MERRY CHRISTMAS!!
The following year (1990) we (the family) agreed to get together the Saturday before Christmas for our family party. My Mom and Two Aunts have taken turns hosting the festivities. I have to tell you and I'll be honest. It just hasn't been the same. We were meeting at a different location every year. And not on Christmas Eve. Myself and the two other oldest cousins had a really hard time with this. There may have been more, but I was only aware of the other two. As time went by, we adjusted to the new format and realized it was great to be able to get together with family every year at Christmas.
This year (2013) I believe was our 23rd year of this family tradition. I thank and praise God for the longevity of this, being able to get together the Saturday before Christmas as a family! God has been so good to us over the last 23 years. We have had some health issues, but we have not lost a single family memeber in all that time. On my mom's side. People have come and people have gone, but the core group of family is the same! And I thank God for that! For keeping us all together and a part of each others lives! Thank You Jesus!
MERRY CHRISTMAS!!
Sunday, December 1, 2013
Paul Walker
Why in the world would I write a blog post about Paul Walker, you may ask yourself. Well, it's not about Paul, but about his untimely, sad and unfortunate death due to a car accident.
It just reminds me of how short life really is. He was only 40 years old. I am 46, so not that far apart. It reminds me of how we should live our lives being close to and in relationship with Jesus. I don't know Paul's spiritual state, but I sure hope that he knew Jesus before he passed. That's just it, life is a blink. Here one second, gone the next. We never know when we are going to take our last breath, so I want to be right with God when that time comes.
It just reminds me of how short life really is. He was only 40 years old. I am 46, so not that far apart. It reminds me of how we should live our lives being close to and in relationship with Jesus. I don't know Paul's spiritual state, but I sure hope that he knew Jesus before he passed. That's just it, life is a blink. Here one second, gone the next. We never know when we are going to take our last breath, so I want to be right with God when that time comes.
Tuesday, September 10, 2013
Correctionville, Iowa
Let me tell you about Correctionville, Iowa. It is a little town of about 850 people located in the far west part of the state. Almost to Nebraska. Maple Park is bigger than Correctionville. Anyway. Let me tell you the story.
It all began on a Sunday afternoon in early May. My family and I had attended a cousins wedding in Yankton, South Dakota. There is a longer version to this, but I wanted it to be a blog post, not a novel! So after leaving Yankton heading home, we were on route 20 in western Iowa. My wife and daughter were asleep, and I needed to stop for something to drink and use the restroom. So I pull into a Casey's gas station. My wife wakes up enough to ask were we are at. I answer "ummmm, not sure." "Correctionville," is my answer. I go in and do what I need to do and get back on our way. Never thought anymore about that town on the way home.
A couple of days later my wife is looking at open churches in Illinois and Iowa. Guess what comes up as an open church? That's right, Correctionville. Now we have heard of it twice in less than a weeks time. Never heard of it before.
About a month later, a friend of my wife who lives in Sioux City Iowa, which is real close to Correctionville lists a house for sale in, you guessed it. Correctionville. So now this is three times in a month that God has brought this town to our attention. We were wondering, when does it go from a coincedence to a God instance? Was, is God calling us to Correctionville Iowa? Don't know for sure, but I thought I better be obidient and at least contact to district to inquire about this job. So I did.
They asked me to send my resume to them along with a letter of good standing from the Illinois district. Which I have done. I talked with the gentleman on the phone and he wanted me to go to the next step and send a hard copy of my resume to the actuall church. Which I have also done. So anyone who saw my post on facebook about it being in God's hands now, this is what it was about. If he wants to up and move, He will open the door. If not, He will close the door. It's all in His hands now! I'll just be patient and worship while I wait.
It all began on a Sunday afternoon in early May. My family and I had attended a cousins wedding in Yankton, South Dakota. There is a longer version to this, but I wanted it to be a blog post, not a novel! So after leaving Yankton heading home, we were on route 20 in western Iowa. My wife and daughter were asleep, and I needed to stop for something to drink and use the restroom. So I pull into a Casey's gas station. My wife wakes up enough to ask were we are at. I answer "ummmm, not sure." "Correctionville," is my answer. I go in and do what I need to do and get back on our way. Never thought anymore about that town on the way home.
A couple of days later my wife is looking at open churches in Illinois and Iowa. Guess what comes up as an open church? That's right, Correctionville. Now we have heard of it twice in less than a weeks time. Never heard of it before.
About a month later, a friend of my wife who lives in Sioux City Iowa, which is real close to Correctionville lists a house for sale in, you guessed it. Correctionville. So now this is three times in a month that God has brought this town to our attention. We were wondering, when does it go from a coincedence to a God instance? Was, is God calling us to Correctionville Iowa? Don't know for sure, but I thought I better be obidient and at least contact to district to inquire about this job. So I did.
They asked me to send my resume to them along with a letter of good standing from the Illinois district. Which I have done. I talked with the gentleman on the phone and he wanted me to go to the next step and send a hard copy of my resume to the actuall church. Which I have also done. So anyone who saw my post on facebook about it being in God's hands now, this is what it was about. If he wants to up and move, He will open the door. If not, He will close the door. It's all in His hands now! I'll just be patient and worship while I wait.
Sunday, July 7, 2013
Restored Hearing
Just wanted to tell a story of what God has been doing in my life recently. He has just restored the hearing in my right ear.
Around the Memorial Day Holiday, I was taking a shower and washing my face and head. I put my head under the water to rinse off and when I pulled it back, I lost the hearing in my right ear. I thought that maybe some water had gotten into it and I tried to get it out. I hit the side of my head with my hand. I pulled it up, down and every direction. Nothing. I yawned, tried to blow my nose, everything I could think of to get it unclogged. Still nothing. So I just started praying to Jesus to heal me and my ear.
A few days later it started to get better, then once again while in the shower, it happened again. This time it got worse. It has stayed that way for the last few weeks. I could barely hear anything. I knew that I could still hear because I would put the phone up to my ear and hear the person talking. It sound all muffled and screetchy. But it still worked.
I kept on praying for God to heal me. I figured that if he could heal the ear of the man that Peter slashed off , He could do it for me.
My family kept on pushing me to go to the doctor. They were tired of my saying "Ehh" all the time. I have an appointment with my doctor next weekend (July 13). I figured if it didn't get any better by then, I would bring it up to her when I went for my other appointment.
So my wife, daughter and I went camping over the 4th of July weekend. We came home and I hopped in the shower. When I got out and was drying off, I noticed that my hearing was back to normal. I tested it a couple of different ways. Put things that made noise up to my ear. Crystal clear. Praise the LORD!! Needless to say, I was a little apprehensive to take my next shower. FYI, the next mornings shower, no ill effects.
He healed my ear and restored my hearing, like I had been praying for and believing for. I didn't need any doctor, I just needed to have faith in Jesus that He would heal me. And He did! He has gotten all the glory and praise from me for it.
Around the Memorial Day Holiday, I was taking a shower and washing my face and head. I put my head under the water to rinse off and when I pulled it back, I lost the hearing in my right ear. I thought that maybe some water had gotten into it and I tried to get it out. I hit the side of my head with my hand. I pulled it up, down and every direction. Nothing. I yawned, tried to blow my nose, everything I could think of to get it unclogged. Still nothing. So I just started praying to Jesus to heal me and my ear.
A few days later it started to get better, then once again while in the shower, it happened again. This time it got worse. It has stayed that way for the last few weeks. I could barely hear anything. I knew that I could still hear because I would put the phone up to my ear and hear the person talking. It sound all muffled and screetchy. But it still worked.
I kept on praying for God to heal me. I figured that if he could heal the ear of the man that Peter slashed off , He could do it for me.
My family kept on pushing me to go to the doctor. They were tired of my saying "Ehh" all the time. I have an appointment with my doctor next weekend (July 13). I figured if it didn't get any better by then, I would bring it up to her when I went for my other appointment.
So my wife, daughter and I went camping over the 4th of July weekend. We came home and I hopped in the shower. When I got out and was drying off, I noticed that my hearing was back to normal. I tested it a couple of different ways. Put things that made noise up to my ear. Crystal clear. Praise the LORD!! Needless to say, I was a little apprehensive to take my next shower. FYI, the next mornings shower, no ill effects.
He healed my ear and restored my hearing, like I had been praying for and believing for. I didn't need any doctor, I just needed to have faith in Jesus that He would heal me. And He did! He has gotten all the glory and praise from me for it.
Saturday, June 15, 2013
What It Means To Be A Dad
This fathers day (2013) will be my 15th one as a father. I have one daughter who is going to be sophomore this year. I just wanted to say some things of what it means for me to be her dad.
The first thing is love and support. I love her know matter what she does. Just like Jesus loves us when we make mistakes, I continue to love my daughter when she makes mistakes. I support her in whatever she wants to do. She wants to be in the school play, I am there for here. Transporting her to and from. She wants to be in choir or a fine arts festival, I am there in attendance. Spending time with your children is more important than spending money on them.
Second thing is teaching. Helped her learn how to walk, talk, tie her shoes when she was little. Helped her learn how to read. Helped her with words she didn't understand. Taught her how to throw and catch a softball. How to hit a softball, how to play the game. I was proud and honored to be able to help coach her softball team for the past 5 years. We watch baseball games together and teach her about what was going on and answering her questions about it. Sometimes there were many, but I didn't mind.
It has been exciting the last few years teaching her about the LORD. She has been interested in my studies ever since I started my ministry schooling. Now that I am a Pastor, she continues to ask me questions about the LORD, and I love it.
Trying to demonstrate that the marriage that my wife and I have is the way that a man should treat a woman. Don't settle for anything less.
Teaching her that a woman can do anything. Don't let anyone tell you differently. Just because you are a woman, doesn't mean that you can't do something.
I can't wait to start teaching her how to drive. Sure I'll probably pull out my hair (what little I have left), but it is going to be exciting. I just pray that Jesus will give me more paitence and understanding.
I can't wait to see her graduate from high school, and then college. To be there when she gets married, to walk her down the isle and hand her off to the new "man" in her life. That will be a sad day for me.
I love my daughter very much and I have been blessed the last 15 years to be her dad. I wouldn't want anyone else for a daughter. I couldn't imagine my life without her.
The first thing is love and support. I love her know matter what she does. Just like Jesus loves us when we make mistakes, I continue to love my daughter when she makes mistakes. I support her in whatever she wants to do. She wants to be in the school play, I am there for here. Transporting her to and from. She wants to be in choir or a fine arts festival, I am there in attendance. Spending time with your children is more important than spending money on them.
Second thing is teaching. Helped her learn how to walk, talk, tie her shoes when she was little. Helped her learn how to read. Helped her with words she didn't understand. Taught her how to throw and catch a softball. How to hit a softball, how to play the game. I was proud and honored to be able to help coach her softball team for the past 5 years. We watch baseball games together and teach her about what was going on and answering her questions about it. Sometimes there were many, but I didn't mind.
It has been exciting the last few years teaching her about the LORD. She has been interested in my studies ever since I started my ministry schooling. Now that I am a Pastor, she continues to ask me questions about the LORD, and I love it.
Trying to demonstrate that the marriage that my wife and I have is the way that a man should treat a woman. Don't settle for anything less.
Teaching her that a woman can do anything. Don't let anyone tell you differently. Just because you are a woman, doesn't mean that you can't do something.
I can't wait to start teaching her how to drive. Sure I'll probably pull out my hair (what little I have left), but it is going to be exciting. I just pray that Jesus will give me more paitence and understanding.
I can't wait to see her graduate from high school, and then college. To be there when she gets married, to walk her down the isle and hand her off to the new "man" in her life. That will be a sad day for me.
I love my daughter very much and I have been blessed the last 15 years to be her dad. I wouldn't want anyone else for a daughter. I couldn't imagine my life without her.
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