I'm Through With The Pirates!

Call me a sore loser, but I am done with the Pirates and their stupid decisions for the season. We have put up with their 16 years of losing. They have no idea what they are doing. They have made two very dumb decisions with trading two very good players in Xavier Nady and Jason Bay. I just don't get it? They at least could have gotten one good player who is playing in the majors right now. But no they got 4 prospects who will be in the farm league for who knows long.

Their management is not good at all and I don't think they have a clue what's going on. I'm done for this season, and I'm not sure if I will be a fan for awhile. HMM..... I am in Cardinal country! They seem to know what they are doing!

The Glorious Light Of God

I found a bunch of awesome scenery pictures on somebodies Facebook page the other night and just thought they were awesome.

This one just really caught my attention and popped a thought and verse into my head. Revelation 21:23-25 The city does not need the sun or the moon to shine on it, for the glory of God gives it light, and the Lamb is its lamp. The nations will walk by its light, and the kings of the earth will bring their splendor into it. On no day will its gates ever be shut, for there will be no night there.

We all enjoy the setting of the sun, and all it's splendor. But in heaven there will be no sun, for the glory of God will be the only light for us there. His light will shine for an eternity. Can you imagine how beautiful and bright his glory will be. The sun is so bright that we can't look at it or we will go blind. But his glory we will be able to look at and it will magnify us. Sunsets are here for our enjoyment and we need to look at every one we can, for after we pass from this earth we will never see another one again. For we will be in line somewhere in paradise waiting for the sunset of all sunsets. Yet it will not be setting, it will be glorifying and flowing through our souls to give us the love and mercy we have been longing for all our lives.

It's time we get our lives where they should be so we all can see a glorious light that will accompany us for all eternity. Look for those who don't know about this light and get them right with Christ and get them in line for an eternal glow.

Finding Yourself In God

Where do you find your relationship with God? Is it a shaky one, with doubts, worries and fears. Or is it growing, feeling his love, mercy and grace surrounding your every day activities.

Do you feel guilty about things? Do you feel you are lost in this world, and all the bad stuff going on in your life right now? How do you walk in the heavenly light of our loving Father?

A couple of years ago I was in a rut and just didn't think things would ever get better for me. I turned to God in prayer and asked for help and things just didn't change in the time frame I needed. It was two years of second guessing God and worrying about everything. Then I realized through a book I was reading I wasn't letting God into my life. I wasn't giving my problems to him. I thought I could pray about it and then try to solve the problems on my own. That brought nothing but more worry.

I finally gave all my issues and gave him the time to fix them for me. Problems still arise sometimes, but now I know how to give them to God and quit worrying. We need to allow Him into our lives and we need to reach for him. He's reaching and needs us to reach out for him and let his love surround us.

We all are at different spiritual growth and need to start growing with God right now. We've all done our share of mistakes and need to stop doing what God doesn't want us to do and live in him and put our past away. If you feel lost and need help then you need to go to God and put him in your life. Because the time is right for us all to change our lives, move forward and continue to grow. God loves you no matter what you have done, and through repentance and faith we can always be in God and he will be in us.

As I look at this world and see the things others are doing to hinder the growth of a Christian, it makes me sad. I don't understand why people want to stop the growth of the greatest thing of all time. Why people don't want to feel the happiness of Christ and to live their lives in peace. Our young people need to be taught the right way to live. Not partying and drinking till they pass out and giving into the evil of drugs. If your kids are grown up then we need to teach other children that these things are not right to do. No matter what the world says about fun in life, don't listen. Listen to God and how he has promised us a home and life that we will never even be capable of imagining. How great it will be to be in the protection of the Almighty God and to see his Son that bore all our sins. What a great day that will be, and that day will never end, ever!

WVU Football, I'm ready!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Security In Churches

This is a man who needs forgiven, but it will be hard. The minister of that church in Knoxville stated that Jim Adkisson is loved and is forgiven. Now that is a mouthful for anybody to say. To state the evil man that just busted in your church building and took out 8 people and killed 2 is forgiven. You know what? He's right we must forgive him. It's hard but he's right.

We have all read about these acts of violence happening over the years in various churches. It's just another reason Satan will burn in his own lake of fire. The only bad thing about this church they are known for fighting for gay rights.

We need security in our churches, especially in today's society. There are people for some reason that just don't like the thought of Christians. Yes, we are happy people and for some reason the bully marches in and takes out his cowardly weapon and takes out their aggression on Gods children.

To me he is a coward! But he may have a mental illness and just took it out where ever he could. It's scary to think that a person could ever be in danger at a place where we feel the safest, but it happens. Pray for this church and its victims and may this never happen again.

Unfaithful In Marriage

I heard some very disturbing news the other day, that just made me feel horrible. A friend of mine had been married to a girl for a few years and they had a child together. The two are members of the church and were very good friends with me.

I had just found out that his wife had an affair on him and left him for good. But the most disturbing part was who the affair was with. I won't go any farther with this but it really disappoints me when people of the faith give in to temptation like this. We are the children of God. We are to hold up a reputation like Christ, we know what the Bible says about things like adultery and other things. Yet we are weak and give into things we shouldn't. I'm just so disappointed with a certain person that it just makes me want to scream. He was a leader at a certain Christian institution and I really looked up to this person, that it just breaks my heart. If I ever see this person again what do I say to him, how do you handle this situation.? I guess I would have to go to the abbreviation W.W.J.D? What would Jesus do? I know what he would do, Forgive!

When somebody creates a sin like this one they aren't thinking about the future and the eternal consequences. It's an impulse and they act on it, just like us with any of our sins. When it comes to adultery it can hurt so many people in the long run. Nobody can trust that person anymore, the children are hurt more than anything and just facing other family members would be horrible. I just don't understand why somebody would give in to such a temptation.

We as Christians need to think about our future with God and think about what we are doing before we do it. I think everyday how great it will be to be with our Father in heaven. I think about my choices and think about the dumb choices I make. Why did I do that? What was I thinking, I should not have said that! I have an easy time with forgiving others, but adultery is something I have a hard time forgiving. It's the big No NO! It's something I need to work on, but it's hard to forgive somebody of.

I just love my wife so much and we have a great relationship and a solid marriage. We've made 3 beautiful children that love us a lot and trust us so much, I just couldn't see breaking up something that God has joined together. He is the maker of this family and who are we to do something to destroy it. We are honest with each other about everything and are always together and enjoy being with each other. I'm not perfect and have no right to judge anybody but I know where I want to be when I leave this Planet and my life is going to be lived to the best I can in the image of Jesus Christ and nothing less will do.

We need to pray for our marriages and pray for Satan to stay out of our lives. He will do all he can to break apart the bond of a Christian marriage and family. We need to forgive those who have given into this temptation and help them through such an event. Before I went to bed last night I prayed for these three mentioned above and hope that two of them have asked for forgiveness and prayed for my good friend that he can make it through this and find somebody he can trust.

I'm Back From A Little Hiatus

Well the family came and visited and we had a good visit, just pray that they have a safe trip back to Wheeling.

So life is back to normal here in Searcy, the temperature is rising close to 100 degrees and the humidity is thick. August is swiftly approaching and you know it by the heat here. I am ready for fall and winter to be here quickly.

As I was driving to work today I happened to look at the sun through the sun visor on my truck windshield and thought about the shape of it. It's completely round, a perfect circle. Same shape as the moon and our planet. Have you ever wondered why God chose the shape of the circle for these objects. If anybody has any input on this it would be nice. I think he chose the shape of the circle to show his complete and binding love. He is a circle of love that cannot be broken. It's something to think about though. Why a circle? Why not a triangle or a square?

I'm am very thankful for my parents and sister and her family visiting this week. I miss them very much and sometimes feel guilty for being down here. I feel sometimes I should be up there lending a helping hand to them. But I feel my reasons for being here Searcy are good ones though. It's a blessing for my children to be in a Christian school and our Church here is great and full of love. I've become a little better in dealing with my love/hate relationship with Searcy. It's not a bad town to live in. As we drove to church Wednesday night I looked at most of the cars driving and it seemed most of them were going to church, to me that was remarkable. When you think about the different places in this country and think about how many other places might not have as many people going to church on a Wednesday night. It makes me feel great that good and faithful people live here.

What might our country be like if at least 70% of its citizens were headed to worship the living God on a Wednesday night. Things might be better. What if 100% went? But it would be a long shot for something like that to happen. But wouldn't it be great? I think we should pray about it.

Come Let Us Adore Him

When you think of the birth of Jesus does it make you wonder about that night. How humble was his birth? Very! Those of us who have witnessed the birth of a child today, the scene is very sanitized and the people delivering are very prepared and know what to do.

Yet when you think about the birth of Christ it wasn't very sanitary at all. We hear of a manger and I think somebody made up that word to make the it seem more elegant. It was a feeding trough. Not to elegant!

Yet when people have a baby many come to see the newborn and are thrilled to get in and see him or her. But nobody came accept a few shepherds, which were unfamiliar to the parents of Jesus. The worlds savior had arrived and no one came to praise him at all. Just a few.

We should be humbled by the way God brought his son into this world and even more humbled by the way he left this world. A Christmas song came on my windows media player and it brought about this thought to me. How little we think of Jesus' birth. A star was shining brighter than any other we have ever seen. A chorus of angels were singing and shepherds came to see this great being who would bring life to all mankind. O come all ye faithful, joyful and triumphant. O come all ye to Bethlehem. Come let us adore him.

Let us adore him daily and never let the humble scene of Bethlehem be taken for granted. He was not a Christmas baby he's an every day baby and an every day Savior. I'm thankful for the humble birth and death of His loving son. The scenes of Bethlehem and Calvary's cross shows us true humbleness. Let there be no arrogance in us, because there was no arrogance in Christ. When we think we are better than others, remember Christ never thought he was better than anyone else. Our heads become inflated alot of times because of career status or great wealth and arrogance sets in and we think of ourselves better than others. Remember God giveth and God taketh away. Come let us adore him and his great love for all.

Falling Behind On Blogging

I find this picture to be the stupidest thing ever. How can God make you an atheist when you supposedly don't believe there is no God. Crazy people!

Well, I have been very busy with work and the heat has about drained me, so I have really been to tired to post anything. Like tonight I have really nothing write about.

The Wheeing clan will be entering our domain here on Sunday. So we got it nice and hot for my mother, I know she is excited! It's been about 97 here with low humidity, so being outside hasn't been to bad. But tonight the humidity has returned, it's like having a wet washcloth on your face. You can't breath and you sweat like George Bush in Iran. I just made that up! But the air conditioning is running full blast and we are inside hermits now until late September.

Where has the summer gone too? I'm glad it's gone by fast. We are ready for the kids to go back to school and ready for fall to arrive. I hope everybody has a good weekend and go to Church. Goodnight!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

MLB All Star Game 2008

I am proud of myself tonight. I have actually watched almost an entire baseball game on TV. Which is rare, being a Pittsburgh Pirates fan. I never get to see them play unless they are playing the Astros on Fox southwest station. So I don't watch much baseball, especially when three kids are always needing your attention.

But I watched the introduction of the players and saw the aging Hall of Famers. You know you are starting to get a little older when the players you watched growing up are retired and looking older.

But I believe baseball will always be my favorite sport when it comes to tradition and the pastime of the game. But as I slowly climb the mountain of age (34) I've started to notice my attention span getting worse with baseball. I don't know if it's the slow pace of the game or it's because the Pirates are always in contention for the bottom of the cellar award in their division. I just can't seem to keep any attention at all. Whatever it is, I will always love the tradition of baseball. It's the game I played as a child growing up and I always loved going to Pirate games in Pittsburgh with my Dad.

I'm trying to compile a baseball card collection for Brayden and Cayden now, so they can have cards of some of the greats these days.But I can't get Brayden to like any type of sport at all, I don't know what's wrong with him. I was going to take him to the doctor and see why he doesn't like sports, but I think they would say I was crazy. But maybe one day he will get into the liking of sports, if not there is aways Macy and Cayden to recruit.

But if I would rate my liking of sports on a scale from 1 - 10 it would be a 50 I would break the scale. Here is a list of my all time favorite baseball players. Don Mattingly, Mike Schmidt, Andy Van Slyke, Roberto Clemente, Willie Stargell, Bill (Mad dog) Madlock, Barry Bonds (cause he played for the Pirates), Bobby Bonilla, Willie Mays, Reggie Jackson, Ken Griffey jr and Pete Rose.

Todays players: Ichiro, A-Rod, Grady Sizemore, Justin Morneau, Jason Bay, Freddie Sanchez, Albert Pujols, Magglio Ordonez and Jim Thome to name a few. These will be the players who the next generation will consider their Mickey Mantle, Babe Ruth and Roberto Clemente.

Baseball will always have a special place in my heart, it is the sport of my uncles and cousins so I guess it just runs in our blood. Baseball will always be America's favorite pastime.

Taco Bell

This little tidbit I'm going to share with you really disturbs me alot. A couple of months ago they had knocked down our taco bell here in Searcy. We thought it was gone for good. But they built what the sign said "We're building Searcy a better Taco Bell." I'm sure they will hire mindless ignorant people like before. Let's hope not after you hear the reason why they knocked it down!

For some reason me and another employee got to talking about Taco Bell today. He said the reason for the why they tore it down was, are you ready for this one? The employees were cooking crystal meth in the back of the restaurant. My jaw dropped and my eyebrows were touching. I just can't believe the stupidity and ignorance of some people. I wish I knew who owned that place I would've raised Cain to them. My point from my previous post. Fast food places higher nothing but ignorant people. Case Closed!

An Outsiders View Of Christianity

The past couple of weeks in Sunday morning class we have been talking about how outsiders feel about Christians. Hypocrisy and judgemental have been what we have been discussing the past couple of Sundays.

Many perceive us as Hypocrites. Which I can't blame them for having that view of Christians. Many have the tendency to take a tough and harsh route to explaining their views for believing in Christ. They get into their little spew of their reasons for believing and get angry when the other person doesn't agree with them. It's the same with sharing your views on politics. I just don't talk about politics very much, it's just not worth the argument.

I wrote about a time in class back at a church we went to before attending college church. We got into the topic of which church was the right church. And one lady blurted out in a harsh tone that the Church of Christ was the only church and nobody else mattered. Well that just irritated me, not because of what she said but the way she said it. Her tone would have scared me off. Why would I want to go to a church that had that kind of attitude. From that I could see why people have a view of us as hypocrites.

We need to approach people with a kindness like Jesus would have done. One guy in our class said the church is a hospital for sinners. I believe that, we are no different than anybody else outside the church. We have just heard what God wanted us to do and we are saved from a life of sin. We are a work in progress and constantly struggle with sin just like those who are outside the doors of the building, but we have found healing for sin.

That's what our approach to an unbeliever should be. Let's burn the perception of hypocrisy and share with others that we been in the same boat that they are in and that were not perfect. But we are being healed daily and striving to be perfect like Jesus. People around us are hungry for some kind of healing and hope. We need to reach out with love and fill that hunger with the healing hope of Christ.

I believe people are afraid of church buildings and those who fill the pews on Sunday. I fear car lots, I want to look at new cars but I don't like the pressure of the sales people. I just don't do it because I'm going to be attacked by a car shark. But if they let me look at what they have and give me time to get used to the surroundings of the lot and let me get comfortable I might be interested. But they don't, if you pull into a car lot there will be a salesman smoking in the front and as soon as they see you they are ready to sell you a car. So I leave because of fear. It's the same way with the unbeliever, if they walk into a church they are afraid they are going to be sold something they might not want to commit to. Of course churches aren't like that, they are warm and very welcoming and want the person to feel comfortable. Some outside the church may have that perception though.

It's time for us to take what we have learned in the church buildings and share it with those who need the love of God. I know people pull out the hypocrisy card when we try to get them to come with us to church, but we need share with them our mistakes and tell them we been there and now we have found a way for healing. Religion and politics are conversations you have to be prepared for, if you don't know what your are talking about and don't know your stuff they will burn you bad. Politics I don't say much about because they will make me look stupid, but when it comes to my beliefs in Christ I will be strong. But I won't be arrogant and harsh and make the other person feel like a fool. But I will tell of the great love that has pierced my heart and made me shed my tears and has bound me in the arms of God for eternity. I will offer my help to them and share with them what I know and if they don't think it is right for them so be it. But I hope they walk away not thinking I'm a hypocrite, but just a man with a calling of love in his heart. Let's reach out and show the loving ways of Christ.

Steeler Wish List

I'm putting this Steeler garden gnome on my birthday list. I think every steeler fan should have one.

Team Hoyt: An Amazing Video Of Strength

I found this video on GodTube.com. It's about a father with a disabled son and together they run a triathlon and finish through strength that only God can provide. Watch it, it will really get the tear ducts flowing. Click on the green arrow in the title box

Matt Jones

This was the most exciting player to watch when he played QB for Arkansas. I met him one day when he came into the cingular store I worked at and sold him a phone case. After today I have lost all respect for this player. Matt Jones was busted the other night for possession of cocaine. How stupid can you be Matt? He was living the dream of every man who ever wanted to be a professional athlete. Just another athlete who fell into the devil's foothold. What a shame!!!!!!!!!!! I pray he will learn his lesson and straighten out his life.

Your Hidden Talent

Don't you wish you could come up with a great idea? One that would lay a million dollars on your table. I just don't know how people do it. Where do they come up with ideas? It just frustrates me to no end.

I see things on TV and think I could've come up with that idea easily, but I didn't! Some people just seem like they are just so talented and can come up with anything. I've been thinking for the past couple of years about inventing tools that would make landscaping easier. I can't think of anything, nothing will even pop in my mind. I see new products at Lowe's and just hit myself in the head. Why didn't I think of that.

Have you ever wondered what talent God has put in you to change the world? I have and I can't seem to find it. I thought about writing a Christian book, but I don't think anybody would read it. Or I would go blank and have nothing to write about. I don't have any credentials in Bible and I am not a preacher. So what would they write on the cover. Clint Singer works at Lowe's and sells Insurance. That wouldn't inspire people to read my book.

I am jealous of those who can write music, it's second nature to some people. I haven't really tried to do it, but I wish I could. I often thought about working with wood and making things like furniture or whittle statues. But where's my talent for that or time. We all have a talent somewhere in our midst, just finding it is difficult. I going to start praying about it and see what talent I can find. I'm yearning for something!

Steeler Football: I Can Feel It Approaching!

I am ready! Two months from today we Steeler fans will be celebrating the first victory of the 2008 season against the Houston Texans! The countdown begins Today!

Humbleness At It's Greatest!

We parents who have children can't wait every year to get our kids on Santa's lap and snap those pictures. It's the highlight of the years of raising children, but a very hectic situation also. You only get so many minutes or shall I say seconds for them to sit and spit out what they want and get the perfect pictures.

I look at this picture and just can't imagine what this experience would be like. Would there be a line for such a moment? Would there be pushing and shoving to be first in line? Would there be foul language because the $500 digital camera from Walmart won't work?

Jesus loved children and was disappointed when the disciples rebuked the children.

Matthew 19:13-14 Then little children were brought to Jesus to place his hands on them and pray for them. But the disciples rebuked those who brought them. Jesus said, "Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of heaven belongs to such as these."

Can you imagine what Jesus would say to your child if this could ever happen? What a blessing it would be to say that the saviour of the world held your child and blessed them. Our children would not know what to say, but I am sure we would if we were held by our Lord. We would see love we could never give or know. A moment in time when all things would be great, our answer would be holding us. We would finally know that none of us are alone, peace would run through our bodies and souls that could not be explained. A moment in time when we would cry not because we are stressed but because we are at peace finally.

I often think about trying to be a more loving person and I think about the love of Jesus. I don't know how loving he was. We read about it in the Bible, but his love is more than we can fathom, we will never know how much he loves. He is the founder of love and to be held by him we would finally comprehend it.

This picture is to me humbleness at it's greatest. He would just give us a glance of love and give us as much time as we needed. I don't think I would quit crying, I don't think I could leave his grasp. I don't think I would gripe I would just say thanks the best I could and just soak up the love. If we think deeply enough we are being held in the Lord's hands, we are protected to the fullest. We think our lives are failing bad, and that we are alone. We are not alone, we just make ourselves to feel alone. A prayer tonight before you close your eyes will put you in the lap of Jesus. This will be you in the picture as you pray your fears away. God bless everyone!

Worry Free With God

Do your moods go up and down? Boy, mine do! I don't know why but they do. I find myself at my worst when I am hungry. I could bite a lion's head off because of hunger pains. I came home tonight at 7 and all I could think about was getting something in my stomach. Of course I had 4 people trying to talk to me at once and just didn't have any patience to handle it. So I finally got some pizza down me and my mood was alot better.

But there are times when I just get down, and try to understand why. I'm just not hopeful sometimes. Of course alot of my issues are trying to survive in a town with no good jobs. I just feel no potential can be gained in a small town. Everybody says go work in a factory job or work with one of the gas companies. I have no desire to do anything like that at all. So everybody will say then quit complaining.

But I always believe something good is going to happen soon. I used to look for something big to happen, which never does. So I learned through the gifts of God to look at things in small packages. And wait for it to happen. I believe prayer has been my answer to getting out of these bad moods. Releasing it to our Father above works, not praying and not turning over my problems doesn't do me any good. I have to release the problems and know God will take care of them for me.

We need to rejoice that we have an answer to our problems and solutions to them. Years ago I always thought God didn't want my burdens and didn't have any time to deal with them. I was wrong! I've learned through reading the Bible and other Christian writers that God wants our issues he wants to know our daily struggles and wants to solve them for us. I just release them and forget about them and know I have reported them to a higher power. I always grew up thinking God was this stern figure who was a disciplinarian and not the loving figure He actually is. We in the church have changed this view of him. He is a gentle and kind loving figure who needs our love. He wants us to be a good friend to him and give him our love and praise. He wants us to report to him and ask questions. He knows our moods and our burdens very well. Through his son he felt our pain of temptation and our physical pain. He wants to be needed and praised , he wants to be the best friend we ever had. He will answer our prayers soon or later, but for now he wants you to know he is there right now keeping us from going under the water. We think he barely keeps our head above water, but if we saw it from his view we are standing on an island with everything we will ever need. Through faith and prayer we will make it through our periods of being down and feelings of being alone. He is a timeless figure who has plenty of time to heal us and bring us true happiness and peace.

Psalm 66:5 Come and see what what God has done, how awesome his works in man's behalf.