Josh Sarah and Kelsey Cox

Well, it's official!!

2010-02-23T14:56:00.003-05:00

Wow! It's been a long time since we've posted on our blog! A lot has happened since our last post...but most important is that we're expecting our 2nd child!! Although unexpected, we couldn't be happier with this news. We have a lot to do to get ready for the baby. My due date is October 15th! I'll try to be good and keep up with the blog...we'll see how that goes! =)

Kelsey's 1 Year Old Pictures

2009-10-26T10:29:00.009-04:00

First Fall Pictures

2009-10-08T13:09:00.007-04:00

Too much stuff to look at so we never did get her to look at the camera!! Maybe next time...

Love that smile....

2009-10-08T13:02:00.007-04:00

Kelsey - July 2009

2009-08-19T08:14:00.012-04:00

Just a few pictures from this past month...can't believe how fast she is growing!

Like Father, Like Daughter...

Kelsey's 9 Month Pictures

2009-08-03T09:09:00.007-04:00

Pigeon Forge

2009-07-09T09:19:00.019-04:00

We took a trip to Pigeon Forge with Josh's parents over the July 4th holiday and had a great time! Here are few pictures of our trip...

These next pictures are from Hollywood Museum of Wax. It was so much fun!
Josh with Forrest GumpKelsey with Forrest Gump
Michael who?Sarah and Lucy...this is from one of my favorite episodes of the I Love Lucy show! Josh and the Men in BlackJust having a chat with Donald Trump
Kelsey and the Wizard of Oz gang
This was taken on our way to Cades Cove where we saw 3 bears and 48 deer!
Happy 4th of July!

6 MONTHS!!

2009-05-02T12:53:00.009-04:00

Well, our little baby girl is 6 months old already...I can't believe how time flies by! We went today to get a family picture and her 6 month pictures. Kelsey did such a good job! We ended up spending a lot more than we had planned since there were so many that we liked. Here are a "few" of our favorites.

Easter 2009

2009-04-15T17:31:00.007-04:00

SNOW DAY!

2009-03-02T17:22:00.003-05:00

Today was a snow day for our whole family. Here in NC, everything shuts down over a couple of inches of snow. I'm not complaining. Kelsey got to "play" in the snow for the first time in her life. She wore her killer zebra-print snow boots too! LOL.

Kelsey is really developing a personality. I know you're amazed...I mean, her mother and I are both so introverted. She is laughing a lot; sometimes she gets choked when she laughs too hard.

We are so thankful that God has given us such an amazing daughter! I feel so blessed that God has given Sarah and I the responsibility of raising such a beautiful little girl.

Also, look out for a personal blog for me (Josh). This blog will remain a family blog. My new blog will be more of opinions (political, spiritual, sports, etc...) As soon as Ben hooks me up with a killer design, I'll be posting away! Quick commercial: If your church needs a functional website that has great design elements, feel free to contact Ben. He is very reasonably-priced, and enjoys designing church sites through Wordpress.

Inspiring Song

2009-02-18T17:25:00.002-05:00

I usually don't post music lyrics on here, but this song has such a powerful message. It's a song entitled What Faith Does by Legacy Five off of their God's Been Good CD. Here's the audio and lyrics as well. It's amazing what our simple faith has the power to do.

"You ask me why I believe like I do

Why I'm so convinced that the Bible is true.

I'm here to tell you, it's only because

I've come through enough to see what faith does.

Faith sees the invisible, believes the impossible

Receives the incredible, no matter what was.

Faith moves the unmovable, proves the unprovable

For anyone willing to trust.

Believe and you'll see what faith does.

If there's a mountain that stands in your way

From all you can see, it will be there to stay.

God said with the faith of a small mustard seed

That mountain will move, believe and you'll see.

Faith sees the invisible, believes the impossible

Receives the incredible, no matter what was.

Faith moves the unmovable, proves the unprovable

For anyone willing to trust.

Believe and you'll see what faith does."

Great Valentines Surprise

2009-02-18T10:02:00.001-05:00

Sarah and Kelsey surprised me with this beautiful picture for Valentines Day! She is the cutest little girl! She laughed out loud (LOL) for the first time yesterday! We are loving it!

Borrowed Faith?

2009-02-16T16:21:00.002-05:00

Our high school principal preached this past Sunday evening in church about Borrowed Faith. I believe many second generation Christians, like myself, have lived far too long off of the faith of our parents and/or church ministries. Now don't get me wrong; I'm all about having good influences in life. I enjoy having that Cabinet of people there to answer questions that I may have. But one day, the person or place you have been borrowing your beliefs and/or faith from is either going to die or change. It is at that moment that your true beliefs and faith will be revealed. It's sad to say, but many of my good friends growing up have completely ruined their lives after they removed themselves from that "umbrella" of their parents or church.

I guess what I'm challenging my generation (especially the second generation Christians) to do is to search out the Bible. Fervently seek God. Figure out just what all this stuff is all about. When you have become self-starting and self-sufficient spiritually, then others will borrow from YOUR faith until they can get on their spiritual feet.

This is just a tiny segment of what I wanted to write, but it will have to do for now.

Pictures of the Angel

2009-02-13T11:04:00.005-05:00

Quote of the Next Eight Years:

2009-02-11T15:48:00.001-05:00

I received this quote via email earlier today. I think this pretty much sums it up. Why can't you Obama people figure this out?

"You cannot legislate the poor into freedom by legislating the wealthy out of freedom. What one person receives without working for, another person must work for without receiving. The government cannot give to anybody anything that the government does not first take from somebody else. When half of the people get the idea that they do not have to work because the other half is going to take care of them, and when the other half gets the idea that it does no good to work because somebody else is going to get what they work for, that my dear friend, is about the end of any nation. You cannot multiply wealth by dividing it."

-Dr. Adrian Rogers

Duke Basketball: When Will it Change?

2009-02-07T10:09:00.006-05:00

I got home from church and choir practice Wednesday night, and saw that my beloved Blue Devils were down double-digits in the first half to the Clemson Tigers. A couple of things crossed my mind, and that's what I want to share with you.

1. Clemson has size, speed, and strength. Duke only has speed. Clemson throws Lorenzo Booker and Raymond Sykes at Kyle Singler and Brian Zoubek. Something doesn't add up here. You have big and strong against slow and white. LOL. Until Mike Krzyzewski decides to recruit a different type of basketball player, Duke will continue to lose to teams that are big, strong, and physical. Unfortunately, I do not think Coach K wants to change. In the early 90's, Christian Laettner was a formidable big man, but things have changed 17 years later. The best two Duke teams since 1992 had Elton Brand ('99) and Carlos Boozer ('01) in the post, both of which are strong, physical, and offensive-minded. From '92 to '98, we had no inside presence. From '01 until this team, we have not had an offensive inside presence. Shelden Williams was far from offensive-minded. While he was an EXCELLENT defensive player, he just did not look to assert himself offensively. JJ Redick was going to take every possible meaningful shot on those teams. What I am saying is the we MUST begin recruiting bigs that are strong, physical, and offensive-minded. While I love Kyle Singler, he's a natural 3.

2. In the past few years, we have put together excellent regular seasons. Our obvious infatuation with the outside shot would finally catch up with us in the post season. Everyone saw it coming every year. This is what is bad...this year, we have been exposed before the half-way mark of the ACC season. If we don't change our offensive philosophy, we will begin a downward spiral in the entire program.

I trust that Coach K will be willing to evolve in his coaching philosophy. I hope he is not too set in his ways. James Johnson, Lorenzo Booker, Blake Griffin, DeJuan Blair, Tyler Hansbrough, Luke Harangody, Deion Thompson, and Ed Davis are proving what a good big man can do for a team. Unfortunately, Brian Zoubek's name will never be on this list.

ESPN ran a stat a couple of weeks ago that said of the last 20 national champions, 60% of their offense was from their front court, with only 40% from their back court. Duke is a long way from that stat.

So, I am a die-hard Duke fan that is calling for a change. Sure, I've been spoiled by the best coach in college basketball. Sure, I want a national title every year. Sure, I want perfection. That's what made Duke basketball so great.

Christmas and into January pics

2009-01-19T13:04:00.002-05:00

Here are some updated pictures of the little beauty queen:

"...In Jesus' Name, Amen."

2008-12-31T13:54:00.003-05:00

It seems that the media will once again try to skew the minds of the American people in regards to Pastor Rick Warren's prayer at the inauguration of President-elect Barack Obama. It seems that the media is ready to pounce on Warren if (and I'm assuming he will) he prays "in Jesus' name." This is further proof that you can talk about God all you want, but if you mention the name of my Saviour, Jesus Christ, then you have offended people. Funny that those same members of the media do not protest a movie that uses the term "Jesus Christ" in a derogatory way or in disgust. Mr. Warren, please unashamedly stand up for your beliefs and mention the name of Jesus as many times as you possibly can during your prayer.

The following is the Yahoo! article about this issue:

Warren's inauguration prayer could draw more ire.

President-elect Barack Obama's choice of Rick Warren to deliver the inaugural invocation drew one kind of protest. Whether the evangelical pastor offers the prayer in the name of Jesus may draw another. At George W. Bush's 2001 swearing-in, the Revs. Franklin Graham and Kirbyjon Caldwell were criticized for invoking Christ. The distinctly Christian reference at a national civic event offended some, and even prompted a lawsuit.

Warren did not answer directly when asked whether he would dedicate his prayer to Jesus. In a statement Tuesday to The Associated Press, Warren would say only that, "I'm a Christian pastor so I will pray the only kind of prayer I know how to pray."

"Prayers are not to be sermons, speeches, position statements nor political posturing. They are humble, personal appeals to God," Warren wrote. His spokesman would not elaborate.

Evangelicals generally expect their clergymen to use Jesus' name whenever and wherever they lead prayer. Many conservative Christians say cultural sensitivity goes way too far if it requires religious leaders to hide their beliefs.

Recession? WHAT recession?

2008-12-29T14:41:00.006-05:00

I have never claimed to have economic wisdom or prowess. I feel like I possess a logical brain that can make simple decisions. I will admit to the reader that I do not fully understand the stock market, its workings, its rates and kickbacks. I just recently opened a money market account, and I felt so "wise." Ha ha.

The news media has a tremendous effect on how Main Street America thinks. If the media portrays something or someone negatively, then the majority of Americans will react to that person negatively. The news media allowed Barack Obama, with all his scandalous past life, to win this election. If you don't believe me, read my post on How Obama Got Elected. The media has reported this horrible status on our economy. Now, before you close your mind to what I am going to say, please do me this favor: read the entire article before you write me off.

Let me begin by saying that I know many people have been effected by layoffs and downsizing. I do not wish that on anyone. I have nothing but sympathy for those people. I hate it that they will struggle for a little while until they land on their feet. But let's be really honest, layoffs have been happening for years...especially around the holiday seasons. Work picks back up after the new year. There is a reason behind these corporations having to let people go. I believe these issues can be simplified into two main causes. 1. Politicians like Barack like to tickle the ears of the lower class by saying that they will NOT give tax breaks to big corporations or even small businesses. That SOUNDS good. However, my friend, if a small business would get a tax break, they would be able to afford to hire more employees. Give the money break to those at the top, and it will trickle down to those at the bottom. It won't trickle from the bottom to the top. I doesn't work that way. 2. Corporate America has been frivolously hiring people that they don't really need, blowing money they have no business blowing, and paying employees infinitely more than they're worth. My wife's employer will send people on a business trip, and their sponsor will spend a bottomless supply of money on four-star hotels, elegant meals, and air-fare. The funny thing about it is that the business trip could have taken place via video conferencing....for nothing. Recession? Yeah right! Tell Johnson and Johnson that!

I traveled to Ohio for this Christmas break. We had free tickets from United (don't fly them if you can help it) because they over-booked one of our flights on the way back from Hawaii. We had a layover this past Tuesday at the Washington-Dulles airport. I sat there for two hours and watched THOUSANDS of people travel the friendly skies. I don't know if you've paid any attention to the airline industry, but it's not cheap to fly anymore...unless it's Southwest (my current favorite business in the country.) I'm talking about THOUSANDS of people spending hundreds of thousands of dollars on airline tickets! Recession? Yeah right! Don't tell holiday travelers that!

Just today, I went to Olive Garden for lunch with my wife's family. Boy, that minestrone soup is excellent. We waited for over 30 minutes for our table. We parked seemingly a quarter of a mile from the restaurant. There were people everywhere! And they weren't ordering water and eating free breadsticks either! Recession? Yeah right! Don't tell food consumers that!

I guess what I am trying to say is that we may be in a cycle of our economy where things are a little slow. Ok. Fine. So stop wasting money on luxuries (ie Starbucks....I know that will make people mad.) Just tighten your budget up a little bit. Don't believe the lie that the economy is just down-right horrible! I mean, did we really think the economy would stay where it was in the late nineties? It was ridiculous! There was no way it could continue. We had to come back to earth at some point and time. Builders and developers have over-built and over-spent, auto makers have wasted money,and homeowners have received loans they had no business applying for! It was asinine to believe that things would keep skyrocketing.

So, Americans, tighten up a little. Work hard. Get into an industry that is a "need" industry as opposed to a "want" or "luxury" industry. Don't follow our government's example of debt. Only spend what you have. If that means that you don't drive a Yukon Denali then so be it. If it means you drive a 5 or 6 year old car with no payment, then you'll be far better off. Don't despair, people. Things will be just fine. And if things don't work out in our economy, then we are on a slick road for Christ's return. The anti-Christ will have the economic "answer." We believers will be out of here!

The Reason for the Season

2008-12-24T20:10:00.003-05:00

Tomorrow the world will stop and focus on gifts, giving, and family. I am happy that, for at least one day a year, this world gets over their selfishness and focuses on others. That, however, is not the reason we celebrate Christmas. While I am all for family times (I'm at my in-law's now) many Christians simply treat Christmas as a time to spend with family. So many folks neglect the true reason for this special day.

You see, a perfect and holy God was born into this sin-filled world as a man. I don't think I can thoroughly wrap my brain around that thought. How amazing that He would be willing to humble Himself and fall under the same temptations as you and me, yet He did not one time give in to those temptations. This King of Kings was born in a stable, not a palace; in a manger, not a royal bed; in Bethlehem, not Jerusalem. What a mighty God we serve.

Let me BEG you to spend a significant amount of time in thanks to Jesus Christ our Saviour this Christmas. It is the day we set aside as His birthday. Let's not ignore him. Here is the Christmas story for you to read straight from the Word of God. You should consider reading it with your family this year.

Luke 2

1And it came to pass in those days, that there went out a decree from Caesar Augustus that all the world should be taxed.

2(And this taxing was first made when Cyrenius was governor of Syria.)

3And all went to be taxed, every one into his own city.

4And Joseph also went up from Galilee, out of the city of Nazareth, into Judaea, unto the city of David, which is called Bethlehem; (because he was of the house and lineage of David:)

5To be taxed with Mary his espoused wife, being great with child.

6And so it was, that, while they were there, the days were accomplished that she should be delivered.

7And she brought forth her firstborn son, and wrapped him in swaddling clothes, and laid him in a manger; because there was no room for them in the inn.

8And there were in the same country shepherds abiding in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night.

9And, lo, the angel of the Lord came upon them, and the glory of the Lord shone round about them: and they were sore afraid.

10And the angel said unto them, Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people.

11For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord.

12And this shall be a sign unto you; Ye shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger.

13And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God, and saying,

14Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men.

15And it came to pass, as the angels were gone away from them into heaven, the shepherds said one to another, Let us now go even unto Bethlehem, and see this thing which is come to pass, which the Lord hath made known unto us.

16And they came with haste, and found Mary, and Joseph, and the babe lying in a manger.

17And when they had seen it, they made known abroad the saying which was told them concerning this child.

18And all they that heard it wondered at those things which were told them by the shepherds.

Kelsey's got skills!

2008-12-24T10:31:00.001-05:00

Send your own ElfYourself eCards

God's opinion on "spreading the wealth."

2008-12-15T12:37:00.005-05:00

During the Presidential campaign, President-elect Barack Obama said these famous words to Joe the Plumber as he was walking in an Ohio town: "Joe, you know we need to spread the wealth around a little." Doesn't that sound wonderful?!?! I mean, we can take from those who have worked for their money or made wise investments, and we will give some of their money to the poor, lazy, and unemployed. That, my friend, is socialism in America. I like to call it Obamunism.

I began thinking about what the Bible says about giving to the poor. I know that there are many verses that tell an INDIVIDUAL to PERSONALLY give to the poor and needy. I have never, however, found where government or ruler should mandate money taken from one person and given to another. The best Scripture reference I could find was in Matthew 25. The Bible gives us specific instructions on how the master should deal with those he entrusts money to. I understand that this is written for the master to be the Lord Himself. I would like to take the secular view and make the master a combination of the government and a boss. Here is the passage:

" 14For the kingdom of heaven is as a man travelling into a far country, who called his own servants, and delivered unto them his goods.
15And unto one he gave five talents, to another two, and to another one; to every man according to his several ability; and straightway took his journey.
16Then he that had received the five talents went and traded with the same, and made them other five talents.
17And likewise he that had received two, he also gained other two.
18But he that had received one went and digged in the earth, and hid his lord's money.
19After a long time the lord of those servants cometh, and reckoneth with them.
20And so he that had received five talents came and brought other five talents, saying, Lord, thou deliveredst unto me five talents: behold, I have gained beside them five talents more.
21His lord said unto him, Well done, thou good and faithful servant: thou hast been faithful over a few things, I will make thee ruler over many things: enter thou into the joy of thy lord.
22He also that had received two talents came and said, Lord, thou deliveredst unto me two talents: behold, I have gained two other talents beside them.
23His lord said unto him, Well done, good and faithful servant; thou hast been faithful over a few things, I will make thee ruler over many things: enter thou into the joy of thy lord.
24Then he which had received the one talent came and said, Lord, I knew thee that thou art an hard man, reaping where thou hast not sown, and gathering where thou hast not strawed:
25And I was afraid, and went and hid thy talent in the earth: lo, there thou hast that is thine.
26His lord answered and said unto him, Thou wicked and slothful servant, thou knewest that I reap where I sowed not, and gather where I have not strawed:
27Thou oughtest therefore to have put my money to the exchangers, and then at my coming I should have received mine own with usury.
28Take therefore the talent from him, and give it unto him which hath ten talents.
29For unto every one that hath shall be given, and he shall have abundance: but from him that hath not shall be taken away even that which he hath."

Funny, isn't it? God believes the exact opposite about spreading the wealth. Barack Obama, John McCain, George W Bush....God disagrees with you. 90% of American voters....God disagrees with you.

God rewards the two men that worked hard, took a risk, traded, and made a 100% increase. The Bible says "well done" to those two men. The man who didn't have much money but was scared to invest and work with what he DID have, the Bible calls him a "wicked and slothful servant." Hmm...so if you do not work, you are wicked and slothful. In fact, if you are not willing to trade and profit with your money, the Bible calls you wicked and slothful.

But that is not the best part....here's God's "spread the wealth" plan. The man with one talent ends up getting his talent taken from him and given, not to someone with no talents, but to the man with the 10 talents! Wow! The Bible teaches that the poor will be servant to the rich. The man that is unwise in his money will end up giving what he does have to a man that HAS been wise in his money! Take from the poor and give to the rich! Interesting! Is that not the exact opposite of the way our tax system is set up in America? The more money you make, the higher percentage you pay in taxes! How unbiblical.

In today's society, I would liken this to a tenant and a landlord. You have the man who has been wise in his investments that owns the property. You then have the man, for whatever reason, that has not traded and invested enough to own a house. He takes the amount that he has, and pays that rich, wise landlord every month...just to stay in the house.

I guess this all comes down to personal responsibility. The individual is responsible for taking care of himself. It is not the government's job nor anyone else's job. If you don't make the money, then you just don't have the money. That's it....plain and simple.

In closing...those that rely on the government to give you breaks because you are not wise enough to handle your money....grow up. Get a good job. Save money. Invest wisely. Take a risk or two. Until you do those things, you will always be the man with only one talent, and there will be plenty of landlords waiting to take your money.

Family Pictures

2008-12-08T10:05:00.006-05:00

Ok. After looking at these pictures, I have finally decided one thing......I'm getting enormous. After viewing this, I am determined to go on a diet and eat healthy. I cannot afford to buy new clothes to fit my fat self. Please pray for me as you know how much I love chips and salsa and other main food groups. I am going to start by cutting out all soft drinks and sweet tea. I will also try to not eat after 6 pm. Wow! This is going to be life-changing.

Christmas Portraits

2008-12-01T20:25:00.004-05:00

We took Kelsey for her first pictures! She did such a good job. She was asleep at the beginning, but she woke up in time for some great shots! She's got her mother's eyes. Here are a few of the pics, and here is the entire album on Facebook.

How Obama Got Elected

2008-11-28T08:54:00.003-05:00

I found this video from the website www.howobamagotelected.com. This is, once again, another form of proof at the ignorance of the Obama voters. It's amazing how the one young girl thinks her ignorance is so humorous. John Ziegler is producing a documentary entitled: Media Malpractice...How Obama Got Elected. I encourage everyone to watch this, visit his website, and also watch his interview on Hannity and Colmes.

Check out these ignorant fools that elected our new President:

Stop and Thank

2008-11-26T19:46:00.003-05:00

I just wanted to stop and thank God for everything He has done in my life. Not only has He saved me, but he allowed me to grow up in a great pastor's home. I am so thankful for my godly parents. He also let me marry the love of my life! Sarah is my perfect match, and I thank God for placing us together. And then there's that miracle of birth! How can you not acknowledge God in His own creation of human life? Kelsey has already, just in this first month, been an amazing blessing to our lives. I cannot imagine life without her!

Make sure you stop and thank God during this busy time. It is the reason we have this holiday, you know.

Update Pics....finally.....my javascript was messing up.

2008-11-21T09:59:00.004-05:00

Kelsey's Visitors

2008-10-28T12:11:00.005-04:00

Here are some folks who stopped by to see Kelsey:

Kelsey and her grand daddy! He's already wrapped.

Kelsey and Jody.

Kelsey and Joanna.

Kelsey and her new little friend, Lauren!

Kelsey and Joey (her pitching coach.)

Kelsey and Stephanie.

Stop traffic. Kelsey and Scott!

Kelsey and Anna B!

Sarah with our little buddies, Emma and Dayna!

Kelsey and Mrs. Bass.

Kelsey and Janet (the next mom). Ha ha. That was for you, Scott.

Kelsey and her bodyguards, Emma and Dayna.

Kelsey and Mr. Ketner.

Kelsey and Mr. Curington.

Kelsey and Karla.

This is the greatest picture ever! Titus wasn't too excited about Kelsey and her "cooties!" Ha ha ha.

Kelsey and Kathleen.

Kelsey and her Grand-ma (Yankees say "Greeama")

Kelsey and Shanna!

Kelsey and her Nana.

Kelsey and Bro. Randy (they have hair similarities! ha ha ha)

Kelsey Renee Cox

2008-10-27T21:07:00.002-04:00

I love this girl! She is so beautiful!

We interrupt Sarah at the hospital....

2008-10-27T07:49:00.003-04:00

You've GOT to hear this. Not that I'm a Howard Stern fan, but this is eye-opening! Listen to these Obama supporters.....

Listen Here.

Pics from Hospital Day!

2008-10-26T19:09:00.002-04:00

Here are some pics from the day we went into the hospital (October 26.)

October 27th looks like the day!

2008-10-21T16:11:00.003-04:00

Well, Sarah and I got some good news this week! It looks like Kelsey will be here this coming Monday, the 27th! We go into the hospital this Sunday evening, and the doctors will induce on that Monday. We are SO excited! It seems like this pregnancy has lasted FOREVER. It's probably just because of Sarah having to be on bed rest, but either way it has felt like an eternity. Here are some pictures from Kelsey's bedroom. It is not completely finished with all the little girly decorations, but it is close. Take a look at that full closet too! She is spoiled rotten, and she's not even here yet!

Financial Advice from Mark Cuban

2008-10-16T10:17:00.002-04:00

If you want some quality financial advice, check out Mark Cuban's blog post on "Where to Put Your Money Right Now."

You can say what you want to about the guy, but he knows money.

A long silence....

2008-10-13T15:59:00.003-04:00

Well, I haven't posted here in like 3 years. Yes, Sarah and Baby Kelsey are doing fine. Kelsey should be born before the end of the month. Sarah looks great! Pray for us.

Here's a video that supposedly has been deleted from Youtube...I'm not sure. I just wanted us to see, from his mouth, what he REALLY is. Americans are stupid if he becomes our next President.

My thoughts on the Olympics.

2008-08-15T11:09:00.004-04:00

Let me begin by saying that I am now a HUGE Michael Phelps fan! I'm liking this guy. He has looked completely unbeatable in all his individual races. The only race that was close was the relay. I love it when an American is head and shoulders better than the rest.

The USA basketball team is also cruising right along. Everyone had something to say about the US team over the last 4 years, but these guys are playing great basketball. Coack K has them playing team defense.

What's really bugging me is the gymnastics. It's not the fact that the US women's team failed to win the gold.....they did not perform well when the pressure was on. My problem is with two completely unrelated issues. Number one is the age of the Chinese gymnasts. These girls are like 8 years old! The legal age for an Olympic athlete is 16! They aren't even close! The advantage that gives is that these young girls (one of which still has baby teeth) do not understand the pressure that is on them to win. They could care less. They are just Communist robots. The second thing that has bothered me the most is the reaction of US coach Marta Karolyi after the US team put on a disappointing performance in the team competition. She wanted the blame the JUDGES for taking too much time to judge in between events! How dumb does that make us look! Of course, I still don't like it that we have coaches from other countries. Kinda makes us look bad...like we can't do it on our own. Come on, Karolyi, your girls did not perform under pressure. They lost the gold. Be a gracious loser.

Now, if only our US team can win the Midget with No Hands Ping Pong competition, I'll be happy.

The End of Blogger's Cramp!

2008-08-01T01:21:00.002-04:00

Hey, everybody! Wow, I've had blogger's cramp. I couldn't seem to find anything to write about. Well, here's an update. As many of you know, my beautiful wife is expecting. As you can tell in the picture, she's kind of showing! Don't tell her I said that. She went through a nearly four-month period of sickness. She is now almost 100% over it. We will have another ultrasound on August 20th, and we will post the pictures. By the way, it's a girl....and we're naming her Kelsey. Don't be an jerk and steal that name please. Kelsey will be the first grandchild on EITHER side of the family! That poor girl will be so spoiled.....she already has well over 20 outfits. Pray for me. Ha ha.

We have been on vacation this week in lovely Pensacola, Florida! We have been able to spend time with Sarah's immediate family as well as some extended family we had never met. It's always fun to get together with the Minnich's, even Adam and Ben! I love you guys!

I am gearing up for another school year! I am looking forward to this class. It seems this year could be a "challenge." I am yet to get in the teacher mode though. I don't know if I ever got really in it last year. I will have a newly-revived focus in about 2 weeks though!

Finally, I am working with Ben on a new, updated website for our church and school. It is going to be first-class! I appreciate his work. The site should be up in about a week or so. Make sure you check it out.

More Pics from Maui

2008-06-21T17:08:00.001-04:00

Pics from Maui

2008-06-18T15:27:00.005-04:00

I told you we would post pictures as soon as we could. We are having a GREAT time!

One week and counting!!!!!

2008-06-09T14:47:00.002-04:00

Next Monday by this time, we will be over the Pacific Ocean on our way to beautiful Maui, Hawaii! Let me tell you, this is a much-needed vacation. We get a spring break....but that's an extremely busy week at Pastors' School. We get days out of school....but they are usually teacher work days. I cannot wait to get one week of pleasant relaxation. I wouldn't mind having one week off to relax in Rougemont, NC. But I get to go to Maui!

I have never been to Hawaii. I am sure I will keep myself busy. I plan on being a beached whale for at least a day or so.....see above picture. I can't go to Hawaii and come back white! LOL! We plan on snorkeling, helicopter riding, and golfing. Does anyone else have any suggestions that won't completely break our budget?

By the way, thanks to Drew and Kristen for this opportunity.

The Racism from Obama's Friends Continue.

2008-05-30T10:42:00.002-04:00

I want you to listen and watch this man as he takes time to mock and make fun of Hillary Clinton....but not just Hillary. He pretty much attacks any white person who's family has been in this country for 100 years. When is someone with some political clout going to stop this nonsense! If Hillary's friends would have something to say like this, she would be crucified! This is completely uncalled for, but it is just another Jeremiah Wright-type idiot that Barack Obama has chosen to associate with.

I will not vote for Barack Obama....not because he is black, but because he is the most liberal politician in our country. He makes horrible decisions and has no experience. He calls for "change," but has no clue how he's going to accomplish it. His racism has been on display for the world to see.

I never thought I'd have to say this, but there is a form of profanity that is used by this "Father" Michael Pfleger. Please be cautioned and forewarned.

2008 Jr/Sr Banquet

2008-05-21T12:55:00.004-04:00

Well, I guess it's time to put up some new pictures! My wife and I had the privilege of attending this year's banquet. We had a great time! Sarah looked wonderful....and I am assuming I did too. Lol! Anyway, here are some pictures.

The Life and Times of the Cox Family....

2008-05-12T11:19:00.002-04:00

Wow! Things have been moving fast! I just returned from a week with our senior class on their senior trip. I had a lot of fun spending time with the kids (plus I got to go white water rafting!) My life pretty much revolves around kids. Whether it is my fifth graders, our teens, or just some little midgets at church, I am usually around kids. This is somewhat of an advantage that I have as I approach father-hood. I get to see how NOT to raise my kid! lol. Actually, I get to see some really great ideas that parents have, and I also get to learn from their mistakes. As many of you know, Sarah and I are expecting a baby (boy...hopefully) in November. We have really been thinking a lot about being parents. It is quickly approaching, and I can't wait!

On a side note....I'd really like to know how Barack Obama has literally blinded the American people! Hey, voters, are you that DUMB? This guy is horrible. He's a racist fool who's pastor (of 20 years) has rumored (probable) ties with Louis Farrakhan and the Chicago-based hate group, the Nation of Islam. This country is going to vote this man into office if we don't change our minds! I never thought I would say this but, I really hope Hillary can pull off the miracle and beat this anti-American! I know it's not going to happen, but it would be nice!

Social Networking: shun it? or embrace it?

2008-04-28T15:39:00.006-04:00

This thing you are using to view my thoughts is a powerful engine. The internet has thrust itself into mainstream society. At first, it was a library of useful (and useless) information. It has now moved into an advertising and social network nation. With every business, church, opinionated idiot (I guess I would fall under that category...ha ha) owning and operating a website, the internet has completely changed the way most of us live. We keep up with people that we would have lost contact with. We can watch church services at churches across the country or world LIVE in our house. If you want to order a pizza, don't reach for your phone. Simply log onto the internet, order, and pay. The pizza will be delivered in under an hour.

I love the internet. I guess you could say that I'm somewhat addicted to it. I do not have the internet at home anymore. To be honest, my life somewhat changed when I got rid of it. It wasn't for better or worse, it was just different.

Here is where my question comes in. I hear preachers, teachers, parents, etc... bashing social networking sites all the time. Myspace has given the internet a bad reputation. In my opinion, myspace is safer now than some other sites. I do not have a myspace. I used to have one, but got rid of it only because of the overall reputation of the site. I really love facebook. It is similar to myspace, but is more of a grown-up site that was created to network people from alumni groups to work groups. Myspace turned into "how slutty can I look" and "how many pictures can I post where I am completely drunk." Facebook (aside from the stupid applications) has stayed mostly adult. I have recently joined a group on Ning for HAC students. It is just another way to keep up with people that I truly care about. While many people discourage the use of these social networks, I see no problem with them. With that being said, no kid needs to have a social networking account on any website. If they are in high school, then they see their friends every day. When they get older and go to college, then they can keep up with all their "old" friends from high school. After college, they will have a huge group of people to keep up with. Before college, however, there is no real reason to have a facebook, myspace, or anything else.

So, I am for EMBRACING the technology. Let's use the internet for what it is good for. Obviously, wisdom has to be used. Certain people may not need to have a social network site. An individual has to do what he or she thinks is best.

I just created a social network for Liberty Christian School alumni (alumni only....not current students)on Ning as well. Feel free to join.

Internet Etiquette

2008-04-16T08:58:00.002-04:00

What can I say on the internet? Better yet...what can I say on the internet when my REAL name is associated with it? What do all the acronyms mean? Can people read my tone of voice and sarcasm over a typed message? These questions somewhat arose in a post over at Southern Sports Beat.

First of all, let me say that what you put on the internet under your own name is visible to everyone (unless you have a private myspace profile or you have a facebook.) Anyone and everyone can read what you wrote. When I first started this blog, I wrote an article about someone in my city. It was a truthful article, but it was not very politically correct. I ended up deleting the entire article because some people had taken offense to what I wrote. I believe I did the right thing. As a Christian that works in the ministry, I believe that I ought not publish issues under my name the could be a detriment to my Savior or my church. That does not mean that I am not opinionated. I am VERY opinionated. In fact, I am more opinionated now than I have ever been in my entire life. But I need to realize that what I type on the internet is forever available for anyone to see/read. Those of you that are in the ministry (especially), watch what you put on the internet!

Now, what do all those acronyms mean, and do they make a difference? Well, here is what they mean:
LOL-laugh out loud
ROFL-rolling on the floor laughing
ROFLMHO-rolling on the floor laughing my head (sometimes replaced with a different word) off
BTW-by the way
IMO-in my opinion
IMHO-in my honest opinion
W/E-whatever
There are several more, but I will not continue the list. Do they make a difference? Absolutely! If I say "Your mom's ugly." You will probably get offended. But if I say "Your mom's ugly....lol." You will probably realize that I was merely teasing. Sarcasm cannot be recognized over typed words unless you use these acronyms. Do not think you can say whatever you want in a joking manner without letting people know that what you are saying is a joke.

In conclusion, do not post anything on the internet that you would not mind anyone in the world to read or see. Do not post anything on the internet that you would not mind being confronted about. Realize that the written word is more powerful than the spoken word. The spoken word can be debated and denied, but the written word will be there forever.

TONIGHT!

2008-04-10T12:58:00.003-04:00

The long-awaited return of The Office is tonight at 9:00 on NBC. Now for those of you that are not privileged to be a fan, you will not understand this semi-cult following this show has attracted. I have missed my main man, Jim Halpert. All his jokes he played on Dwight and Michael......ah the memories. I can't wait to see the rest of the crew as they desperately try to keep Dunder Mifflin afloat.

There is a rumor of a new spin-off show from The Office. I have heard that Andy may be the main character. I don't know what I would think about that. Andy is one of my least favorite characters. Check out this article I found on Yahoo.

On a more serious note....continue to pray for Sarah as she is moving along in her pregnancy. We have a doctor's appointment early next week...we may get to hear a heartbeat!

An update on Eve Carson's killers.

2008-04-02T12:10:00.003-04:00

The two men who murdered UNC student body president, Eve Carson, seem to have some issues with their probation periods. DeMario Atwater's probation case was pushed back for over 9 months. This guy should have been in jail. It is just another glaring flaw in the city of Durham. His paperwork was lost in the shuffle, and a dangerous criminal was free to roam the streets...in search of his next victim.

Lawrence Lovette Jr, the 17 year old that has also been charged in the murder of a Duke graduate student, was also on probation. His probation officer, Chalita Thomas, is also no stranger to a courtroom. Keep in mind, this is a PROBATION OFFICER! She is supposed to be working with criminals to keep them in line. Interestingly, Thomas has quite the criminal record herself. She has had 11 charges filed against her in the past 5 years! Her last charge was a DUI in late 2007 in Wake County. Her other charges range from a concealed weapons charge to another DUI. Are you kidding me? Maybe part of the reason this 17 year old kid has killed two people (that we know of) is because the people that are supposed to be "mentoring" him are just a screwed up as he is!

What needs to happen is for the city of Durham to really come under fire for all of this. This will be the second time in about three years that Durham's way of doing things will come under scrutiny....the first being the Duke Lacrosse case. Durham needs a change! It is time for city residents to take a stand against the mayor's office and city council, or you will be forced to do what I did....move out of the city.

We will never see the change in our inner-city kids until we see an overthrow of the city government. We could start by giving both of these fools the death penalty. I know that won't happen, but it is wishful thinking.

Our Economic Status....

2008-03-26T09:18:00.004-04:00

Is this making anyone else mad? I do not know about you, but I am getting tired of hearing citizens and the news media gripe and complain about our current financial state in America. WAKE UP, PEOPLE! IT'S OUR FAULT! The media tries to twist it and hint that George W Bush has something to do with it. That's funny! George Bush has nothing to do with the way idiots spend money that they don't have. George Bush has nothing to do with people buying a house that they cannot afford. And, by the way, Barack Obama's "Change We Can Believe In" will do nothing to help either. I know, Obama, I'm just a "typical white person" as you say, but I have an opinion on our economic state.

We are a generation that has always had "things." Most of us had video game systems. Most of us wore name-brand shoes. Most of our families took fairly expensive vacations. Most of us lived in a middle-class home. We got used to it. We became so accustomed to living that lifestyle as a teenager that we thought we would always be able to live that way. What we forgot to realize was that most of our parents did not live that way as young adults. They had to scrape by. They worked their way up (financially) to where they could live a middle-class lifestyle. This generation does not want to work their way up.

This generation wants the same (or better) kind of car that their parents have....without saving the money to buy it. This generation wants the same (or better) kind of house that their parents have....without planning and being able to afford it. This generation definitely wants a bigger and better TV than their parents had....without the money to afford it. We want everything everyone else has without working for it! We have lied to ourselves about our finances, and now we are paying for it. Loan companies have promised "no payments for 18 months" and we have taken the bait. Mortgage companies have given adjustable rate mortgages to people who could never afford the payments after the initial year, and we have taken the bait. We live in houses that we cannot afford; we drive cars nicer than what need; and we wonder why we become over-taken in debt. If you meet a person under the age of 30 that does not have any credit card debt, you have met a rare bird.

So we can blame the "higher-ups" for our wasteful spending, or we can accept the blame ourselves. The only way we will bring ourselves out of the state we are in is for young people to become disciplined with their money. Sadly, I do not see that happening. Our country's economy will continue its downward spiral until we decide to take control of our personal finances. I am not the model for this. I spend more than I need to spend. But I am well aware of my money. I am disciplined. I know where my money is going. I don't buy just to buy. I do eat just to eat, but that's another story. Ha ha!

Let's band together as young people. Work hard and save for the things you want and need. If you don't have it, don't spend it! If not, we will really make it difficult on OUR kids. Imagine how much worse it will become.

This time it's for real.....

2008-03-24T08:21:00.003-04:00

I know I got a lot of you about a year ago when I posted that Sarah and I were expecting. Well, this time it's not a joke! Sarah and I will be having a baby! She is due in November! Please pray for us that everything goes well. I am hoping to have a boy, but a girl would be fine too! I know that our lives are going to dramatically change in the next year, and I am ready for it....I think. If you have any advice, feel free to give it to me.

The Murder of Eve Carson

2008-03-12T15:20:00.003-04:00

I want to start by saying that there are some things that need to be said about this tragedy, but I will not say them. Some would deem them inappropriate or short-sighted. I will be as politically correct as possible.

An innocent young girl had her life taken last week. Eve Carson was a model student at UNC-Chapel Hill, the president of the student body. She was taken from her dorm room and brutally murdered. Durham (of course) police have detained a suspect in the murder after a home raid early Wednesday morning. Nothing is known at this time.

What a tragedy! I will be honest; I had to wait a little while before posting about this. I am angry at the entire situation. Heaven forbid this would have been under different circumstances! This killer or killers need to be put to death publicly.

My heart goes out to Eve's family and friends. I hope justice will be served.

Video Clip of the Week

2008-03-11T08:45:00.001-04:00

Check out this curveball from Clayton Kershaw, a 19 year old rookie in the LA Dodgers' spring training camp. It is amazing!

Flu Helps

2008-03-03T12:47:00.003-05:00

I found this article on fitsugar.com.

With the nasty flu bug making its rounds, there's only so much eating healthy, getting enough rest, washing your hands, getting a flu shot, and avoiding germs one can do. If you're unlucky enough to get the flu, your body will hike up your body temperature to boil away all those germs. So, is there a point when your temperature can get too high?

When you get the flu, a sudden high fever is totally normal, and it can get as high as 104° F, and last for three to four days. The best thing you can do is to rest and drink plenty of fluids, since a fever can cause you to become dehydrated. Don't attempt to cool off your skin with cold packs since they'll just make you shiver, which will end up raising your body temperature. Instead you should alternate between taking Tylenol and ibuprofen every four hours to help reduce your fever. Alternating these meds will help to prevent accidental overdose, and sometimes the combination of the two will be more effective in bringing down your fever.

Fit's Tips: If your fever persists for more than five days, or it goes over 104° F, call your doctor and get some medical advice immediately.

I get tired of people overreacting to illness. Every time some people get a temperature over 100, they go into seclusion. Toughen up, people! I've been sick for over a month now, and I'll be sick until April! That's just a fact of life!

Our New Hobby!!!!!!

2008-02-25T12:38:00.002-05:00

Well, Sarah and I have a new hobby! That's right. After years of boredom, I have now become an avid player of ROOK! We played with some friends this past Saturday night. I probably played for nearly 4 hours. I love the strategy/luck that's involved. I love trying to read your own teammate to see what he or she will do next. I love ruining the other team's chances. It was a lot of fun! I am hooked. Today, I will be purchasing my first set of Rook cards to take on a trip!

How many of you out there are Rook players? If you don't play Rook, what games do you play? Make sure you keep everything appropriate....knowing some of you....

Dear Concerned,

2008-02-21T15:47:00.002-05:00

You and all of your posts have been deleted. You are an idiot. If you have an opinion, just say who you are, and everything would be fine. It's easy to hide in anonymity.

2008 NBA Dunk Contest

2008-02-18T10:39:00.003-05:00

I know that I have a sports blog, and the NBA (I guess) would be considered a sport. But I wanted everyone to be able to see Mr. Dwight Howard in Saturday night's dunk contest. To be honest, the dunk contest has become somewhat boring in the past couple of years, but Howard took over this time.

Nameless people with opinions.

2008-02-15T09:44:00.002-05:00

I really don't appreciate nameless people. Someone signed my guestbook as "concerned" and criticized me for putting up the "worst church websites." I believe I stated that I had no connection to any of those churches. I believe that would lead to the conclusion that no one had been singled-out or made fun of. My post was to "encourage the bretheren".....encourage them to get a better website. Listen, "concerned," at our church, we know what it's like to not have a website, or to have one that is under construction. Ours was that way for years. I'm not criticizing anyone....I am just proving a point. A church website is important. That was my point. If you, or anyone else, took it personally, I apologize. If you would like to step forward out of your namelessness, that would be great. It is always easy to say something behind a mask.

Seeing that some people COULD possibly be offended by the worst sites, I will swallow my pride and take those down. I will leave the best sites up. Thank you.

Valentine's Day

2008-02-13T16:15:00.003-05:00

Valentine's Day is tomorrow. I trust you have done your homework and bought your gift. Valentine's is all about the one you love. Spend this Valentine's with that special someone. I'll spend mine at a 6th - 8th grade intramural basketball game! LOL! My dad will spend his in India...hours away from my mom. Julio will spend his in the Air Force....hours away from all his women! If you have your special someone, realize how fortunate you are. There are many who will be separated from their loved one due to unchangeable circumstances. I love you, Sarah.

To liven things up, here's a list of some random things I love on this Valentine's Day (in no particular order):

1. My wife.
2. A removable shower head.
3. A Duke basketball win.
4. A UNC struggling win....and a loss to Duke.
5. Making my friends mad over at Sports According to Josh
6. A church service that gets out on time.
7. My parents.
8. Chips and salsa.
9. My fantasy football buddies....especially Jeff (see #5)
10. Rain.
11. The Office
12. My SS class.
13. The badger commercials.
14. Bro. Guang's chinese food.
15. My Corolla.
16. My in-laws...all of them....even Adam....and Ben.
17. Living in the SOUTH.
18. A Yankee candle.
19. Those sweet little deck shoes.
20. Ralph Lauren and my main man, Julio Medina!

Don't you just love......

2008-02-05T12:22:00.001-05:00

Don't you just love how church websites look sometimes? Now, I'll be the first to admit that my church's old site looked like a bulletin. I know that all churches can't afford a site, or they do not have the resources, but God's work should look first-class. Here are some of the worst sites I have seen. Then I'll put up some of the best. By the way, I have no relation to any of these churches.

Worst:

DELETED

Best:

http://www.houstonsfirst.org/

http://www.fbcowasso.org/

http://www.harborlight.com/

I believe that a church's website can be and is used as a tool to reach the lost and unchurched.

What say ye?

Who's your candidate?

2008-01-30T11:05:00.000-05:00

Who in the world are you going to vote for? I am still undecided. Well, here's a test you can take that will show you how your beliefs compare to the beliefs of the presidential candidates. Take the test, tell me who your candidate is, and what your score was. Mine was Mike Huckabee (crucify me, Dave) with a score of 46....but Mitt Romney was a close second with 45. Here's the link Presidential Test.

A great day in Blog World!!!

2008-01-28T14:55:00.000-05:00

My very opinionated brother in law Adam (not the other very opinionated one Ben) has started a blog! Adam is a genius...and an opinionated one too! I look forward to hearing his thoughts about history, politics, sports, and pretty much any and everything else. This ought to be fun! Here's the link. http://theminnichsmusings.blogspot.com/

Phone call......

2008-01-19T23:24:00.000-05:00

I got a phone call tonight from Julio! Man, it was great to hear his voice. We got to talk for about 25 minutes. He is doing great. He's still in extensive training and what not. We got a chance to tell some funny stories. We laughed and used the word "dung"...it's one of our favorites. We laughed about the "similarities" between HAC and real boot camp. It was just great to be able to talk to him. He has really become like a brother to me.

His new address is posted on www.juliomedina.com. Check it out, and make sure you pray for Julio and send him letters.

Two Men and a Truck

2008-01-12T10:57:00.000-05:00

Let me say...I HATE MOVING!! When I was at college, they used to make me move rooms, and I would fight it like OJ's lawyers. My senior year, I just told them that I wasn't going to move. I hate it! I end up throwing tons of stuff away.

As you know, my wife and I are moving within the next two weeks. We have begun the long process of packing. We have already nearly finished our office room. Let me just say again...I HATE MOVING!! There are so many stupid decisions to make. Should we keep this old picture? Should we leave this piece of non-matching furniture? All these questions.....that really don't matter!!

If you would do me a big favor....pray for me and my wife. We are on the verge of insanity. Thank you.

See Pic's of Julio!

2008-01-11T09:54:00.001-05:00

There are a couple of pictures of Julio in the AF on www.juliomedina.com

As of January 18th...

2008-01-05T19:41:00.000-05:00

As of January 18th, my wife and I will be homeowners! We close on our house on the 18th! I could not be any more excited. We found the perfect house at the perfect price. We thought we were going to make an offer on another house about a month ago, but it did not work out....thank the Lord. It would not have been the right fit for us. The Lord laid this house in our hands. We started packing today. I hate moving by the way. That's another blog post coming in the future. Pray for us...this will be an extremely busy month.

A little picture to brighten your day.

2008-01-04T14:48:00.000-05:00

Just a little motivation from one Mr. Dwight Shrute.

My final decision.

2008-01-02T22:08:00.000-05:00

After two longs weeks of debating the fate of my blog, I have decided to remain at blogger. I know the wordpress blog looks more clean and "grown up," but blogger is easier to work with. I'm not trying to win a CSS style sheet trophy or anthing. So, you will get the posts back here again. Thanks for being so patient.

BTW, the picture has nothing to do with anything....just to bring a smile to your face.

Wordpress?

2007-12-21T10:45:00.001-05:00

I have begun a possible switch from blogger to wordpress. I have imported all my posts over there. I am not sure of the advantages of wordpress over blogger. I would like for some of you to let me know what you think. Visit my new site here. Leave your comments on either blog.

Check out the Big Bald Blog Contest!!

2007-12-21T08:56:00.000-05:00

I stumbled upon this blog while on Big Al's. The Big Bald Blog is having a great contest. They will be giving away prizes just for subscribing to their blog in a rss feed. Check it out! The prizes are as follows: An 8 gig Ipod Touch, 500 Entrecard Points, a blog review from Bloggin-Ads, or Big Poppa Worlwide gear.

Take advantage of this opportunity! All I want for Christmas is a Big Bald Blog Prize!!

Omazing Grace

2007-12-19T14:19:00.000-05:00

Amen. This was a blessing. Please listen to it all the way through! This guy should do this full-time! It's funny to hear the people say Amen when he's done! LOL!

Movie Review--The Bourne Ultimatum

2007-12-12T22:07:00.000-05:00

I can honestly say that the Bourne movies have to be my favorites. I absolutely love them. I love the story line, the action, and the cleanliness of all three movies. The Bourne Ultimatum hit video stores this past Tuesday, and I saw it asap.

I will not give the movie away, but I will try to spark your interest. Jason Bourne has been a government assasin in the first two movies on the Treadstone project. He has killed several other assasins that were assigned to kill him. In the third movie, Bourne wants to trace back to the beginning of his government job. He is now a part of the new "Treadstone" called Blackbrier. He is mistakenly detected by the CIA while attempting to talk to a reporter. That puts the CIA on his case again. Bourne seeks to find answers to his past while being chased by killers and CIA agents. He gets some help from an unlikely source along the way.

This is a great movie. In my opinion, this is the best one of the three. The chase was amazing. Go buy it today. The collector's edition 3-pack is available at Blockbuster.

Biltmore Estate in Asheville, NC

2007-12-10T10:29:00.001-05:00

Our Bible class took a trip to the Biltmore Estate in Asheville, NC this past Saturday. I had never been there before. It was a great experience. It is amazing that the house was built in the late 1800's, yet it had such great design.

Sarah had fun scaring strangers as they walked through. LOL!

Visit our class website at www.strivinglbc.com

You know THOSE people....

2007-12-05T22:14:00.000-05:00

Do you know what I mean when I say "those kind of people?" You know, those people that you just don't like that much? You know what I'm talking about. You wouldn't dare say it to their face unless backed into a corner, but you really can't stand being around them. Yep, we all have them. I just wanted to interrupt your joyous holiday season to bring you back to reality. There will always be people like that. I guess I'm just going to have to get used to it. They make me want to scream though (see above picture.)

Do you ever wish you could just say everything you think and feel? I come close often, but I never really get to let it all out! This post is my form of venting. Thank you for being a good friend and allowing me to vent on you.

Now back to your joyous holiday season!

"Joy to the world...." I love the Christmas season! It's a time to give and see others happy! Everyone that you come in contact with will be kind and sweet! They will not be "that kind" of a person! It's all going to be wonderful this holiday season! "Rockin' around the Christmas tree...."

I love you guys! Don't forget about Julio! Write him a letter! Mine goes out tomorrow!

Check this out...

2007-12-02T07:27:00.000-05:00

Check out this art blog! I went to school with Cassi and her husband. I never knew she could draw like this. This is truly great work. Check it out and contact her if you are interested.

Wireless Communications Devices

2007-11-28T21:31:00.000-05:00

Big Al inspired me over at Life and Lawns. Cellular phones have come a long way over the past few years. I had the privilege (I guess you'd call it) to work for Sprint PCS, now Sprint Nextel, for over a year while I was in school. The major nationwide networks are ATandT (Cingular), Verizon and Sprint Nextel. There are other smaller newtorks (Alltel, US Cellular, T-Mobile, etc..), but they have yet to rival the big three.

Over the past three years, Sprint has focused its marketing towards the internet/data portion of wireless. They have partnered with the NFL to offer NFL Mobile. They tried partnering with ESPN for a while....now Verizon is trying. They offer the Sprint Music Store where you can purchase full songs for your phone. The boast of their "Power Vision" EVDO internet. All of their marketing is focused on this portion of the wireless industry. Their new slogan "Ahead" makes no sense to me. Oh well. Stay with me.

All this time, Verizon has marketed their "network." From the "Can you hear me now?" commercials to their current "take your network with you" ads, they are focusing on their coverage area.

ATandT (formerly Cingular) is boasting the "fewest dropped calls" as well as working in Philafranland or whatever. LOL! They too are focusing on their call quality or coverage area.

Here is my question: What are you looking for in a wireless provider? Are you looking for the internet? Are you looking for a live dopplar radar? Are you looking for NFL Mobile with live fantasy updates? Are you looking for the latest hit from "Soldier" Boy? (I'll spell it right....lol!) Or are you looking for coverage area? Are you looking for the fact that you will not drop your call? Are you looking for good call quality? What matters to you?

I am not saying that ATandT and Verizon have the best coverage areas or have the best call quality, but that is what they are advertising. Would that draw you to leave Sprint/Nextel or a smaller carrier? If you were in charge of marketing for a wireless company, what would you focus on?

Having worked in the industry, I definitely have my opinion. I will give it after I hear yours.

Pray for my friend....

2007-11-24T16:09:00.000-05:00

You know, I have said before that good friends are really hard to find. I have several good friends....one of which is Julio Medina. We were roommates my senior year, and we worked together for about a year or so. We developed a great friendship. Julio has joined the United States Air Force. He will be going to basic training this Monday. I am going to miss this guy. He has always been there for me, and I will always be there for him. I want to ask each of you to keep him in your prayers. If your church has a prayer sheet, please add him to it.

Thanks, Julio for being a great friend....have fun and kill some terrorists! LOL!

I couldn't resist....

2007-11-22T08:47:00.001-05:00

Star in Your Own JibJab! It's Free!

Give me your honest opinion....

2007-11-19T17:22:00.000-05:00

I am not as "into" politics as I should be. I will be the first to admit that. I am guilty of not being knowledgeable and falling back on a political party to make my decisions. I have paid some attention to the job our President has done over the past seven years. I have some opinions, but I want to hear yours first.

How has George W. Bush's presidency up to this point been in your eyes? What are the positives and what are the negatives? What could he have done differently. Be prepared to have to back up your arguments....my two brothers-in-law are avid readers and posters. LOL! Plus you shouldn't be like the mainstream, liberal idiots who just spout off....THERE!

ADD and ADHD....over-used excuses.

2007-11-13T21:34:00.000-05:00

I want to preface this post with this statement: There are people that have legitimate attention problems. Those people deserve all the help that they can get, whether medically or by other means. I will not dispute that people do suffer from ADD (attention deficit disorder) and ADHD (attention deficit hyperactivity disorder.)

With that being said, let me get to the truth. I deal with people. I teach a school class, I coach, I have an adult Bible class, I work with our teenagers, etc... I am with people ALL THE TIME. I am getting tired of people making excuses for their lack of self-discipline and obedience by calling it "ADD." When a person does not follow the instructions of their parent or teacher, that is a rebellion problem....not ADD. When a person is told to read something (at work or school), and they get sidetracked and do not read it, that is a disobedience problem....not ADD. Too many people (especially young kids) are being told that they have a "disorder." They just cannot do what they are told like all the "normal" people. That is the biggest lie someone could tell. I did some searching about ADD. Below I will list several symptoms of ADD. If you have six out of these several, then there is a possibility you have ADD. Here goes:

Six or more of the following symptoms of inattention have been present for at least 6 months to a point that is disruptive and inappropriate for developmental level:

1. Often does not give close attention to details or makes careless mistakes in schoolwork, work, or other activities.
2. Often has trouble keeping attention on tasks or play activities.
3. Often does not seem to listen when spoken to directly.
4. Often does not follow instructions and fails to finish schoolwork, chores, or duties in the workplace (not due to oppositional behavior or failure to understand instructions).
5. Often has trouble organizing activities.
6. Often avoids, dislikes, or doesn't want to do things that take a lot of mental effort for a long period of time (such as schoolwork or homework).
7. Often loses things needed for tasks and activities (e.g. toys, school assignments, pencils, books, or tools).
8. Is often easily distracted.
9. Often forgetful in daily activities.
10. Often fidgets with hands or feet or squirms in seat.
11. Often gets up from seat when remaining in seat is expected.
12. Often runs about or climbs when and where it is not appropriate (adolescents or adults may feel very restless).
13. Often has trouble playing or enjoying leisure activities quietly.
14. Is often "on the go" or often acts as if "driven by a motor".
15. Often talks excessively.

Is this not hilarious?!?! What kid (especially) does not have most of these symptoms?!?! But people are told that they have a disorder if these are present in their life. This list of 15 should be named the "15 Signs That You are Controlled by Your Sinful Nature." No self-control....PERIOD. When I was a kid, my parents would tell me to stay seated (see #11.) If I didn't, then I got my butt whooped! LOL! Guess what.....NO MORE ADD FOR ME!

I feel that ADD is being used as an excuse for bad parenting. A parent does not want to deal with the headache of properly disciplining their son or daughter. Then their child develops like 13 out of these 15 sins...I mean...symptoms, and they give the ADD excuse. It is not ADD, it is a lack of discipline.

Let me end by once again saying that THERE ARE PEOPLE WHO HAVE LEGITIMATE ATTENTION PROBLEMS. I am not dumb. I know that. But I also know that many people have been "diagnosed" with ADD only as an excuse for bad behavior or poor performance on the job or in the classroom.

Check this out....

2007-11-12T14:10:00.000-05:00

Check out my brother-in-law's website. He has started designing for churches. There are some previews of his work on there. Our church is one of them. We hope to have the church site up soon. He does a great job. If you need anything, he would be happy to help you.

PS- Adam (my brother-in-law) designed his church's website as well. Check it out.

I am the non-technical in-law.

What Would Mark Cuban Buy.....

2007-11-10T21:52:00.000-05:00

Below is an article by Stephan Spencer. I really like Mark Cuban. I thought this was a typical Cuban answer. He just seems like a cool guy. You can visit his personal blog whenever you like!

What would billionaire Mark Cuban buy if he had the money?

Seems ironic that a billionaire who owns such trifles as a G5 private jet could have unmet wants due to the fact that he can't afford them. But that's exactly the case for Mark Cuban, owner of the Dallas Mavericks and the HDNet television network. Not familiar with Mark Cuban? You'll probably know him best from his fancy footwork on Dancing with the Stars (he was just eliminated last month) and the short-lived reality show in which he starred, The Benefactor.

Mark spoke to attendees in the afternoon keynote at the Blog World and New Media Expo yesterday (Friday) in Las Vegas. (Great conference, by the way! And great parties too, including the bash that Zappos threw right after Mark's keynote!) During the Q&A, there was one comment that Mark made that peaked my interest in particular. Mark shared with BlogWorld attendees two companies he would love to buy. Alas, he confessed he can't afford either one of them. One was Facebook. The other was Verizon.

Facebook
I agree with Mark's assessment that Facebook is hot. So I have to admit that, at the right price, I think Facebook would be a great buy. But Internet users are fickle, and so it could be a risky purchase. For example, MySpace isn't as hip — particularly with teenagers — as it once was, whereas up-and-comer Bebo has gained a lot of ground with the teenage set, especially internationally. Will users see Facebook as old and tired in a year or two? Will Google's OpenSocial initiative level the playing field and thus lure users away to other social networks, taking market share away from Facebook in the process?

Verizon
From Mark's talk at BlogWorld, it was clear he sees immense value in the pipes bringing high-speed data (Internet, video, voice,..) into the home. Could Verizon be the one to deliver on the dream of HD (high definition) video over the Internet? YouTube's video resolution sure does su... um, leave something to be desired. Personally I'd love for Mark to own Verizon and drive it hard towards that nirvana for all us bandwidth-hungry entertainment consumers.

I feel bad for Mark that he can't afford these two companies. Perhaps we could all pitch in with a few bucks of our own and lend him a hand so he can buy at least one of them? ;-)

Is there anything better.....

2007-11-08T22:23:00.000-05:00

Is there anything better than having a long conversation with people......over some outstanding food?!?! What a great way to fellowship with friends! We have had a couple new couples (lol) that have started attending our SS class. We like getting to know them, so we go eat with them. One couple we went to the fair with....we actually just ate a lot! That was great fun. Tonight we went out to eat with another new couple. The food was GREAT, and the fellowship even better!

Maybe I'm just fat, but I believe a healthy conversation always begins with food. When I was in college, I wasted so much money just going out to eat with people. Then we'd spend 2 hours just talking about life stuff. I loved it!

I guess I'm saying that you should spend time with other people, and going out to eat with them is a great way to do it.

A Big Step

2007-11-03T21:06:00.000-04:00

My wife and I are house-hunting. I have always thought that I would just be able to jump right in, get my loan, and move. I am finding out that it's not that easy. After looking for several months, we have found the house that we want. It is an amazing house. It is way nicer than we should be able to afford, but it seems that the Lord has allowed this house to stay on the market for a long time. We are going to make an offer as soon as our loan approval is done. Pray for us! To be honest, I am kind of scared. That is a lot of money to pay every month! I know that I have not made a hasty decision. I know that this is the Lord's will. So I will aggressively pursue it.

Sometimes in life, we try to "out-think" and "out-reason" God. There is a reason this house has been on the market since February. There is a reason the price has been reduced a great deal. There is a reason, and I have to trust God and use His wisdom. No matter what situation you are facing, trust God and His wisdom to guide you. Read Proverbs 3:5&6.

Carb Countdown

2007-11-02T10:14:00.000-04:00

I know I shouldn't even eat these things due to the high carb count, but Bryan got me thinking about french fries. I love fries. I would just assume to eat fries as I would a fast food cheeseburger. I will rank my top five fast food type fries.

#5: Steak and Shake-If you like skinny fries, Steak and Shakes are wonderful. I like them best when I dip them in their chili.

#4: Chick-fil-A-Their waffle fries really hit the spot when they are piping hot. I am not a fan of these fries the colder they get.

#3: Arby's curly fries-These are amazing! That's all I can say.

#2: Bojangles-For those of you that have never been privileged to eat at Bo's, you will not appreciate the cajun-seasoned fries. Give me a little extra seasoning, but not too much! I personally love them.

#1: McDonalds-Hands down, these are the best. I am a huge fan of the semi-skinny fry. They are great when they have just been pulled up from the grease, but they keep their perfection even when eaten luke-warm. These are a classic that McDonalds better never change. Ba-Da-Ba-Ba-Ba.....I'm lovin' it!

Rules, Rules, Rules

2007-10-30T20:25:00.000-04:00

Rules.....doesn't that sound like a dirty word? When I was growing up, I absolutely hated rules. I tried to find ways around every rule I could. I rebelled against rules and those that had to enforce them. The older I get, I understand that, no matter how strict rules were as a kid, they are NOTHING compared to the rules that life gives you. You know, it used to be that I would break a rule, then I'd get a whoopin' and after like 10 minutes, it was back to normal. Real life says that I have a bill to pay. If I don't pay it, I have late fees, and creditors after me. That's worse than any whoopin! If I decide to drink and drive, I will spend some time in jail or at least in court. That's worse than a whoopin! If I decide to just stop going to work, I'll get fired. Then I won't have money to do all those things I want to do. That's worse than a whoopin! If I decide not to pay my taxes, the IRS will be after me (like Will Ferrell in Stranger than Fiction!) That's worse than a whoopin!

I guess what I'm saying is that rules are always going to be there. I have actually accepted that fact. In fact, I kind of enjoy the fact that I have rules. They keep me in line...on the right track. As young adults, sometimes we try to raise a family and have a home without rules because we are bitter against the rules that our parents set for us. Don't fall to that temptation. If your home doesn't have rules, then your kids are going to be in for a suprise when they become an adult. If you have rules with consequences that teach a lesson, then you will prepare your child for real life. No matter how difficult it may seem, live your life inside a safe boundary of rules. They will protect you. That's my 2 cents. I'm out!

Since Barack's on my mind....

2007-10-26T10:10:00.000-04:00

This is now two things Obama will not do to show patriotism. First, he wouldn't wear the traditional American lapel pen....now he "forgets" to salute our flag. I know that doing these things does not PROVE one's patriotism, but it does PUBLICALLY SHOW one's patriotism. It makes me wonder. I have questioned his religious background in the past. If we don't watch it, we could have some real problems on our hands in 08.

The following is an article taken from Newsbusters.

Mark Finkelstein writes...
Obama: No Hand on Heart for National Anthem

During rendition of the national anthem when the flag is displayed, all present except those in uniform should stand at attention facing the flag with the right hand over the heart. Men not in uniform should remove their headdress with their right hand and hold it at the left shoulder, the hand being over the heart. -- United States Code, Title 36, Chapter 10, Sec. 171

Turns out that not wearing a flag lapel pin isn't the only way Barack Obama chooses to show he's a different kind of Democrat.

Have a look at the photo from the October 1, 2007 edition of "Time." It shows Obama, Hillary and Bill Richardson at the Steak Fry of Sen. Tom Harkin (D-Iowa) on September 17 in Indianola, IA during [according to the photo caption] the National Anthem. Richardson and Clinton have their hands on their heart. But not Obama. Does he perhaps believe that, like wearing the flag pin, the hand on the heart isn't "true patriotism"?

"Time" ran the photo without comment. I haven't seen coverage of this anywhere else in the MSM. Perhaps some enterprising reporter can ask the Illinois senator about his decision to spurn this American tradition.

Meanwhile, does Obama have some third act or omission planned to demonstrate that he's not falling for those corny, old-fashioned displays of patriotism?

NOTE: The original version of this item, based on a reader submission, stated that the photo was apparently taken during the Pledge of Allegiance. I've now located the original "Time" image, whose caption states that it was taken during the National Anthem.

SEPARATED AT BIRTH?

2007-10-23T14:06:00.000-04:00

I thought about this a little.....they could be brothers, maybe twins!

That's right! Julio Medina and Barack Obama....somehow related.

Too good to be true?

2007-10-22T19:36:00.001-04:00

A friend from church told me about the website, and I think it's the real deal! Glasses can become expensive, but not here at zennioptical.com All you need is your prescription, and you can have a pair of glasses for as low as $8 a pair. This is no joke! Now I've got to go to the eye doctor to get my prescription up to date. My wife and I are both going to order some....check it out!

Long Week!!

2007-10-21T21:28:00.000-04:00

We were out of school Wednesday, Thursday and Friday for our fall break. It wasn't a break for me! We drove to Pensacola, Florida on Thursday afternoon.....that took 10 and a half hours. We got in around midnight....just a few hours after a tornado hit Pensacola. We packed up some furniture on Friday. Then we got the chance to see a couple of our girls that are at Pensacola Christian College. We took them to O'Charley's for dinner and Marble Slab for dessert! We got in about 10:30 Friday night. We then got up and left by 8:00 Saturday morning. We stopped at an outlet mall in Georgia and kind of took our time getting back. We got in around 9:00 Saturday night. I was pooped! I was like a zombie all day today at church. So, now after our "fall break," I need a break!

I just wanted to let all of you know just how rough of a life I have.....LOL!!

State Fair

2007-10-18T10:56:00.000-04:00

My wife and I got the chance to go to the North Carolina State Fair with a couple from our SS class. I spent a lot of money on the most important thing at a fair....food. I had two ears of corn off the grill, dipped in hot butter! I also had a London broil steak sandwich with cheese, onions and peppers. I tried some rippled fries. Basically they cut a potato fresh and cook it in a deep frier. Lastly, I ate a fried pickle. I know that doesn't sound great, but I really enjoyed it.

Now it's your turn. What is your favorite fair/amusement park/ballgame/carnival type foods? Tell me what it is and where you got it!

If you had 6 months to live.......PLEASE COMMENT

2007-10-14T22:47:00.001-04:00

If you KNEW you only had six months to live, what would you do? What changes would you make? Who would you spend time with? Please comment on this. I know many of you will quote Tim McGraw...."I went sky-diving, rocky mountain climbing. I went 2.7 seconds on a bull named Foo Man Chu....." There I already said it; now come up with your own answers.

Urgent prayer request....

2007-10-11T21:12:00.001-04:00

Please pray for a dear lady in our church named Lurlene Miles. She is in her 80's and she fell today. It does not look good. My wife and I just got back from the hospital. Please pray for her and her family. Her husband and she have been in our church for well over 50 years. They are a wonderful couple. Keep her husband Jimmy in your prayers as well. She is truly a great lady. Thank you for your prayers.

My thoughts on money.....

2007-10-09T20:52:00.000-04:00

"The love of money is the root of all evil." Boy, I believe that's the truth. The more I concern myself with money, the more I am dissatisfied with what I have. I really don't care anymore! As long as I am happy and my wife is happy then I could care less about money. So many times, people rate their happiness based on their bank account. What a sad way to live. I don't know why I posted this, but maybe it will be an inspiration to somebody!

Happiness is a decision you make, not a number in a checkbook.

I'm out!

Old Friends.....

2007-10-03T21:32:00.000-04:00

You know, Julio's blog got me thinking about friends. I consider myself truly blessed to have the friends I have. The Bible says "a man that hath friends must show himself friendly." I try my best to be friendly to people, and God has given me so many friends. Do not take friendship for granted. True friends are a rarity in this life, and friendships need to be closely guarded. I wish I could name ALL of my friends, but I will probably forget some people. Now, if your name does not appear on this list, that does not mean you are not my friend. These are some of my closest however. Oh well....here goes.

Sarah Cox
Renee Cox
Jack Cox
David Cayton
Tony Cayton
John Collins
Bobby Isaacs
Aaron Kemp
Derek Ketner
Julio Medina
Scott Medlin
Adam Minnich
Duston Moore
Steve Morrissey
Bennie Newton
Branson Ragan
Matt Reynolds
Micah Roberts
Andrew Smith
Randy Youmans

Wow, what a list! They were put in alphabetical order (except for my baby and parents!)

I love you guys!

Kudos to Mark Cuban!

2007-09-29T11:34:00.000-04:00

Mark Cuban has to be one of the coolest people in the world! The man is a billionaire; he owns the Dallas Mavericks; and he is on Dancing With the Stars this season! Many people down-right hate this man, but I disagree. Sure, he has his run-ins with the NBA, but he is just a fan cheering on his team (they are actually HIS!) I like to see an owner on the 2nd row, cheering for his guys. He loves taking risks. He's not much of a dancer, but we'll see how far he gets.

This guy just enjoys life. He has a blog that I post on often. He seems like a down-to-earth guy who's having a lot of fun.

Kay Yow

2007-09-24T21:02:00.001-04:00

Two weeks ago, I ran into an amazing woman at the NC State football game. I was waiting in line for the veterans to make their entrance to the stadium when Kay Yow walked up beside me to see the entrance. I got a chance to talk to her for a little while and get my picture taken with her. She is a good Christian lady, and has a wonderful testimony of her fight with cancer. This past year, ESPN honored Yow at the annual ESPY Awards show. Take a look at the video and then the picture I got with her. Her faith and walk with God has sustained her through this third stint of cancer. What an inspiration she is to me!

The following is and article from thecancerblog.com:

North Carolina State women's basketball coach Kay Yow is still in the game, despite her difficult match-up with a fierce opponent -- breast cancer.

Yow is fighting for the third time a disease that has been spreading throughout her body since last fall. She has sores in her mouth, hasn't been able to eat, and receives regular doses of pain medication, antibiotics, and nutrients to combat the effects of three chemotherapy drugs that are cycling through her tired body.

Still, Yow is never far from the sidelines.

She was right there in the mix the day NC State named its women's basketball court in her honor. Shortly after, she was wheeled off the court on a stretcher, headed for the hospital so she could be pumped full of drugs. She was at work the next day. And at the unveiling of the Kay Yow Court. And at her game that same night. And at the end of the night, with an oncologist and nurse, she was accompanied to her office where she was once again hooked up to an IV so drugs could once again drip into Yow's exhausted body.

Yow, 65, is tough and determined.

"I know people are saying I'm doing too much," Yow says. "I know I have to take care of myself. But it's not like I have a cold or pneumonia and if I rest it will get better. Rest is not going to cure cancer. If rest were just the answer, that's what I would do."

"But if someone can be involved with something that is a passion for them, then I don't think there's anything wrong in trying to do that. Coaching lifts me up. Once the ball is tossed up, I forget pretty much about everything and just focus on the game. If I just do nothing, I feel like I'm giving in to the disease."

For anyone keeping score on the battle between Yow and cancer, it's clear Yow is a winner.

Our new Bible class...

2007-09-24T11:58:00.000-04:00

We just completed our third week with our new adult Bible class. We have had a good turnout each week, and the spirit in the class is wonderful. I keep our class blog updated, so feel free to check in with us from time to time. The lessons are also posted each week.

Jena Six

2007-09-20T20:25:00.000-04:00

Well, the "huge" rally happened today! 2,000 people showed up to show their support for the "unfair" treatment of the 6 African-American teens accused of assault. Let me say, most importantly, I DO NOT BELIEVE THOSE GUYS SHOULD HAVE BEEN CHARGED WITH ATTEMPTED 2ND DEGREE MURDER. THAT WAS WRONG. But, come on people! This is a joke! The Reverend Al Sharpton led the march of the mostly young, black college students. While I know racism exists in our country, I am not so ignorant to think that it is predominately white on black racism. The times have changed. This is not an issue of six BLACK teens that broke the law; this is an issue of six TEENS that broke the law. While the white teens should have never tied those ropes up in those trees, it was not a criminal offense. They were suspended from school.....that's fair. These other six teens BROKE THE LAW. They should pay for assault. They need to be punished. This was the second arrest for one of the kids. This isn't a race issue, folks; this is an issue of six teen criminals that need to be punished fairly. I trust the court system in Louisiana will handle the situation justly and fairly. That's all anyone can ask for. If these guys did not commit the crime, then I trust they are set free. If they did do it, then I trust they will be punished.

End Times.....

2007-09-16T22:47:00.000-04:00

I could not believe my ears earlier this week when I saw Kathy Griffin's comments after winning a Creative Arts Emmy for her reality show "My Life on the D-List." I will post her quote in its entirety. It is extremely offensive....just a warning. After receiving the award, she makes her speach of gratitude: "A lot of people come up here and thank Jesus for this award. I want you to know that no one had less to do with this award than Jesus," an exultant Griffin said, holding up her statuette. "Suck it, Jesus. This award is my god now."

After being asked about her speach, she replied, "I hope I offended some people. I didn't want to win the Emmy for nothing."

She is coming under fire by many religious groups, yet she is still unrepentant. I wonder where the fear of God has gone? I hope God really shows his wrath and power after this. These are truly the end times. Anyone that would stick up for her is a sick person.

This got me thinking....if she would have said "Suck it, Muhammed," the media would have roasted her. We have become so tolerant towards Muslims that we cannot be free ourselves. In Sampson County, NC, on this past Tuesday (Sept 11) students were not allowed to wear apparel that had an American flag on it. Those types of symbols were said to be offensive to certain people! Wow....our country is in trouble.

September 11 Tribute

2007-09-10T20:53:00.001-04:00

We must not forget the great price that was paid on that day, but we also must not forget the price that is still being paid. I love my country, my president, and my military. May God bless America and all she stands for.

First Days of College

2007-09-05T16:31:00.000-04:00

We have several teenagers that have headed off to Christian colleges for the first time. This got me thinking about when I first went to college at Hyles-Anderson. I thought I had it all figured out. I was a preacher's kid. Everyone knew me at my home church. I remember trying to "play it cool" with my parents about being on my own as an "adult." I wasn't as loveable as I should have been.

I remember my first night in the dorms. I thought I was at camp or something. Then I started realizing that I would be living like that for the next 4....ugh...I mean....6 years! I waited in line for showers, I slept through my roommates late night work schedule, and I realized there were really cool people and really strange people all living together. It was a whole different ball game. I finally met some of my friends in my classes....Adam and Stevie in English 101! That was a funny class. Then I met Duston in Personal Evangelism...HELLO! I met tons of people. I'm glad I did, since I keep up with several of them to this day....even Adam:)

These are just some of the memories I have of college. I hope our young people guard their testimonies and have much more of a smooth ride than I created for myself.

This Sunday

2007-09-02T23:58:00.000-04:00

Sunday, September 9th, my wife and I are starting a new adult Bible class at our church. If you live in the area, feel free to stop by! If not, you can keep up with us at our blog.

Keep us in your prayers. We really are looking forward to investing in the lives of those that attend our class.