Got totally blessed last night and got to go to the theater with my wife. It was awesome...I like movies like "The Incredible's", "HoodWinked", "Bugs Life", "Toy Story" and you get the picture. This story proved just as good, I had been told it was a good story but after seeing it...I am impressed!
However it has been a while since I have been blessed to go to the theater and see a good show...the last very impressive thing I have seen was in 1994 while I was in St. Petersburg, Russia I got to see "Swan Lake" by the Russian Ballet Company...wow that was impressive!
So this is what happened the first time...i was sitting and my buddy Colton crawls under the table and lays down on my crossed legs. A few minutes later I notice the snoring...so I get up and leave him there to nap. It was a pretty funny thing to see
Until...
Then a day later he does it again...I love my little sleepy buddy!
AAhh...the old egg on the spoon game, being played by one Katie Ferdig (aka: Smith) who is now a Leader in Driven Jr. High. It is so cool to watch people grow! Had a great conversation with her tonight and found out she ran a half marathon a few days ago and is planning on running in the Twin Cities Marathon next year! She has grown into an amazing woman...i know Kelly and I are proud of her!
Here it is...i know i bet you where thinking you would see a picture of me or one of the kids maybe even one of her siblings or a dog...but no it is 32 ounces of Diet Coke.
I know it says diet pepsi...but she loathes diet pepsi!
wow i just realized that i come in second place to a liquid!
I showed you the other day what my lovely wife had to put up with in the man that God brought her way...well here is the beautiful site I got to see each morning!
Man that was awhile ago!
I still have to find the picture of when my hair was really long!
OOHH the joy of it all parts are on the way...woohoo. I am really happy for this stuff to all get here...everything from lifters to cams to headers...(insert Tim Allen Tool Man grunt).
Got to spend the day with some good friends Dima and Anya...all I can say is we are all blessed!
Really cannot get off of how blessed we all really are. You know we tend to forget the little things that God does sometimes cause we are looking for the big!
I figured that my postings have lacked a little lately...so I am going to post this before my wife can (yep I am a post thief)! Dinner made by my amazing wife was awesome! This meal was filling warm and full of love.
I will let her tell of what she did...if she wants. But I am constantly impressed at her. It takes a lot of work to do all she does and does it all with such grace and poise!
yep I leave here in about 45 minutes (8:15) to go for a ride today and it is 33 degrees out right now...so you ask are you NUTS...nope just love riding and know how to dress for it!
7Then the Lord appeared to Abram and said, “To your descendants I will give this land.” And there he built an altar to the Lord, who had appeared to him.
I don’t know about you, but I am not satisfied with just knowing that I am righteous by faith. I also want to get to know the One who made me righteous. I want to have an intimate relationship with my Savior!
Abraham was such a man. He was righteous by faith, but he also had a close walk with God and was blessed by God in all things. (Genesis 24:1) His nephew Lot, on the other hand, although righteous too (2 Peter 2:7–8), had no heart for God. He ended up losing a lot when Sodom, the city he dwelt in, was destroyed along with Gomorrah. He was saved by the skin of his teeth!
My friend, do you want to be a Christian like Lot, righteous but always finding yourself in trouble, or do you want to be a righteous-and-blessed Christian like Abraham? Then, like Abraham, have a heart for God.
From place to place, Abraham would build an altar to the Lord. And in between altars, he grew very rich! (Genesis 13:2) There is no biblical record, however, of Lot ever building an altar to the Lord.
What is an “altar” in today’s context? It is a place where you know that you have a close relationship with God. For example, when my late father was in the hospital, I was worried and did not know what to do. I remember driving down the road and crying. After a while, I just threw my cares to the Lord. When I reached the hospital, I just laid my hands on my father and said, “Be healed in Jesus’ name.” And he was healed!
Till today, I can remember the place where I had cast my cares to the Lord and leaned on His love for me. That is my “altar”. And it is not the only one.
We have got to have this kind of relationship with God, one full of “altars” that remind us of His love, goodness and faithfulness. Let’s not live the Christian life like Lot, saved by the skin of our teeth. Let’s walk closely with God as Abraham did, and be richly blessed in every area of our lives!
Read this article from Mac (my pastor) this morning and felt it needed repeating...thus the parrot thing...i mean come on haven't you ever been around a kid and said that he is a parrot because he repeats everything!
Enough with me here it is:
Skills of Outstanding Leaders
Perseverance & Persistence
by Mac Hammond
Perseverance is all too rare a commodity these days. Theodore Giesel's first children's book was rejected by twenty-three publishers. The 24th publisher sold six million copies. Years later, "Dr. Suess" died knowing his perseverance resulted in entertaining and educating millions of children.
The value of perseverance is highlighted in many places in the Bible. For example, Galatians 6:9 says, "And let us not be weary in well doing: for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not." Persistence is a vital quality for leaders today.
My question for you is, "Are you being tempted to quit where you need to persevere?"
Last week I woke up singing the song "Overcome" that the crew from the 5th Service did on there album..."we will overcome by the blood of the lamb and the word of our testimony"! First off Susan no comments on me singing...I know it makes people ill but God likes it!
Today I woke up singing the "Holy Holy is the Lord God almighty"...I have to say I love times like this!
I guess i got tagged so here it goes 6 random things:
1. i love my job...I really do there is no way around it, I love what God has called me to do. I love that He saw fit to put me where I am.
2. no matter what the weather is i love riding my bike.
3. like working with my hands...big example is the tearing apart and putting these two bikes back together, i also enjoy getting things to work that haven't!
4. i hate having nothing to do
5. i really do not like watching baseball (i know shocker) i do like playing baseball...just have a hard time not being apart of it
6. i do not like the way i get to focused and forget that there are people around me...it really bugs me that i do this
Here is the 650 Special...it will get bobbed with some crazy forward looking apes...however it will be the last one to get fixed up and running!
And the SR500...this bad boy will be Ratted out and LOUD!
The SR is what I will start on first. Still gathering ideas about what I will do. However the first thing I get to do is rebuild the engine...and yes I am truly excited for this process! Have most of the parts found online all i need to do is order and get to work on them!
Yes they look torn apart right now...and thats the way I want them!
I really stink when it comes to christmas and birthdays ask my wife...I always buy the gift and then give it a day later cause I hate lying and holding things back...so here is the answer to the question I poised yesterday!
I got blessed with two...not one but two motorcycles yesterday!
One will be bobbed and the other will be chopped! I am so stinking excited! As I get time I will post pics...but for now just be blessed with me!
I put yesterday as a cool day...but that is going to need to change to today! Because today started out and finished "Super Crazy Cool"! I know you are totally wondering what it is that has transpired and I will be willing to pass on the info in a day or two but not now...lets just say that God is faithful BIG TIME!!!
and no Kelly and I are not having more children...!
Had the privilege of being apart of Dave and Kats wedding on Friday. Talk about two people who love and care for one another...man I am so proud of them and there walk with God.
Got to play bass tonight for a few of the services this weekend in Driven Jr High I have to say I really like playing this bass...Peavey Cirrus 5! Gota love that low "B"...
Kelly and I got to see one of our favorite persons in the whole world...Susan Fletcher! The crazy dude in the picture with her is Kevin we have no idea why she hangs out with him...hehehe!
Then I got to eat some hamburgers with the folks I truly love working with the FSM crew...thanks to everyone who participated!
Kelly is making BLTs tonight for dinner and apparently needed to run to the store (didn't even know she left the house) till this little fella and all his friends in the house started chirping. Yep the bacon started burning and set off the fire alarms.
I can honestly say we are safe if we ever have a fire there is no way I could sleep threw that barrage of noise!
and you ask how was the bacon...perfect not even burnt...
Took the boys to the park before lunch to hang out and have some fun... Connor climbing up to the slide...
Colton climbing the rock wall...yeah I know this park has a little rock wall for the kids...Amazing!
Then I got to thinking about how much fun we where having and how much I missed my hunting buddy Sandie...she was a ton of fun to have around. The boys loved her and Chayse always played with her. She was one of the best dogs I have know when it came to "being around kids". Then I get a call from a young person that has had a tragedy and I mean a big one happen a few months ago...watching the person you care about die. As my two boys played in the park we talked on the phone about how much this person is missed and how a birthday of the person who is still alive is not much to celebrate...and we cried together!
In the next few days we will sit down and talk some more...and I am happy for that...and I thank God that I do not have to pull from my wisdom but from His.
I know that this could be a downer of a post but I don't want it to be that way. I realized on the bike ride home with the boys how unable I was to describe how thankful I am of what God has blessed me with. First and foremost the empty cross...i am redeemed because of Jesus! Next my wife, children, and family (yes even the in-laws). Then my friends and leaders who have spoken into my life over the years. After that my job and my church they are one in the same i guess...because I love what I do!
Funny how you can go from playing to crying to overwhelmingly thankful in the matter of an hour!
Chayse is my daughter (one and only daughter) she really loves people and always wants to help...sometimes to a fault. However this morning was different, Grandma (my mom) who lives with us comes up stairs and is really not looking good because of the pain she has in her leg. Chayse knows that Grandma had surgery a few weeks ago to get rid of the pain. However there has been some residual effects of the surgery (she goes to the Dr. tomorrow....thank God) which they say are normal and should pass.
Chayse being moved with compassion leans over and says "lets go pray for Grandma"! Of which I try to compose myself and not break into tears and reply "okay, get up and go pray for her". She does...Grandma cries...Grandpa cries...and yes I cry!
I love my little girls heart...she is so loving and she gets it from one place her Father (and no not me). We see all thru the word of God where Jesus was moved with compassion for someone in pain or trouble.
I believe that little girl has great faith...and I am so happy at how God has shown her his love for her...that she would reach out to those around her.
Connor and I got to spend a little time chilling reading "How Dinosaurs Learn There Colors"!
Man I tell ya it is intriguing and invigorating...definitely kept our attention the whole time. We then commented on how "deep" and moving the book is, it made us laugh it made us cry!
Definitely a good book to read I highly recommend it to the post modern emerging grace filled generation that is looking for a change in the everyday routine of life and love...
Yes i had fun sitting with my boy learing how dinosaurs obtain the ability to see and know colors...he just likes the pictures!
All of my kidos have amazed me with the ways they sleep and Connor is no different...this is how I caught him waking up from his nap. Almost looks like it hurts but he woke up in a good mood so who's to argue with what works. Worked for an old rancher in Arkansas growing up and he always said "if it aint broke dont fix it!" and that motto seems to work here as well.
Same child sleeping under his pillow...oohh well he is happy and asleep!
I will post pictures later...but for now let me say "I can park my vehicles in the garage"! Wooot for me, since we moved in I have been unable to park in the garage because of "junk" I mean "stuff" still in the garage from the move! But after all the work done yesterday (thanks to Kelly helping me move a BIG item in) it is clean and organized.
pics will follow later...
Here is the main part of the garage and when we first moved in it was PACKED with stuff...
Here is the far right side, at the begining the bike barley even fit now I have enough room for a couple more ;) !!! (God Bless you Kelly)
And here we are looking at the hole I punched in the ceiling to store all the "stuff" that doesnt need to be accessed all the time...and yes I will put the ladder thingy in at some point!
Camp was amazing as always John Tasch came again and did the first 3 nights with all the kids...we got the idea to do camp with everyone at once (2nd grade - 12th grade). We (Pastor Jeff and Sunday, Pastor Mark and Debbie, and Kelly and I) really felt that God wanted to create a flow of influence in the children's and youth of LWCC and we have seen it work...it was a powerful week!
Elementary kids left us on Wednesday morning and the last two nights where Pastor Jim from LWCC and he did an amazing job of tying the whole week up and getting the kids thinking of how they can take what they posses and distribute it to the world.
The crew at Lake Geneva Christian Center are a some awesome people ready to serve and always willing to give...thanks for all your help!
Starts on Sunday and all I have to say is...BRING IT ON! Looking forward to what God is going to do through John Tasch and Jim Hammond. Really excited to hear, see, feel, and be apart of the worship. And just all around ready to have some fun!
Mom is home and the funeral for grandma is over...thank you Father for your strength and peace!
And thanks to all who prayed, said, and did all the nice things for us...it is appreciated!
Here is one big on...Sunday Burquest hunted us down like a crazed stalker on wednesday she said "she had something to drop off"...she dropped off an entire meal! What a blessing I know my wife was hugely blessed cause she had no time to make a meal and this hit the spot!
Wasnt smart enough to take before pics...but here is the damage!
cannot get the pic to sit right...but you get the idea. Great food...and as you can tell the cupcakes had no chance of survival!
Tomorrow is a fun day...a day that I am excited for and here is why.
First my mom gets to come home from the hospital. I am totally excited for this home coming because of what God has done...what a quick healing! She had surgery on Tuesday at 4:00pm and by 7:00pm she was up and walking around (not running a race) but moving to the bathroom and back. Today we went for a walk around the hospital and what God has done is totally amazing in seeing what He has done in her! WOOHOO for God. So tomorrow we get to celebrate her home coming.
Next we have a funeral to go to for Kelly's grandmother "Marion E. (Schrupp) Almquist". What an amazing woman...I knew her briefly and was blessed by her. Today I read thru her obituary and one point stood out to me "11 grandchildren; 15 great-grandchildren" man what a legacy this lady left behind...and tomorrow we get to celebrate her homecoming as well. that is her holding my youngest sons hand...she is an awesome person! We are blessed to know her!
Kelly's grandma passed away tonight...wow what a way to start a post! Sorry about that but hey with my mom in the hospital getting ready to have surgery on her back, camp with 390 some odd people in a few days (we start on sunday), and the real possibility of Kelly not being at camp because she needs to help my parents at home...cause mom is having surgery. I guess I could say thank God that He is in control!
ohh yeah we do thank you for your prayers of strength and healing, strength for our families and us as we walk thru another death, and healing for my mom!
I know its short...not funny...not aww forget it I am tired and all I care to know is God is in control!
Today has been a really busy day...man it started early 5:00 came a call from mom (mom and dad live downstairs) and she needed help. So the day started off with a run down to the hospital and I ended up spending most of the day there with her.
She is doing okay but gets to spend the night in the hospital...but all is good with her! So where does the beautiful wife fall into all this? She takes the kids and my dad and runs with the day and here it is: - makes dad his lunch cause he will be staying at home. - makes 3 kids there breakfast and gets them out the door to church to make sure 2 Jr High Youth Services get up and running. - then part way thru the day gets the news her grandma is not doing well and is on her way home. - calls me cries her eyes out and then picks herself up and finishes the last service. - goes and sees her grandma then picks up the 2 boys from being watched and heads home
This woman amazes me...cause then she goes to the supermarket and pick up some food. Steaks for us and hotdogs for the boys (chayse is at wessies and natos...thanks guys) and man that steak was good!
Thank you God for what you have blessed me with...
Los put up a post about something that is really close to my heart...where I work. I grew up in a small church in Arkansas (nothing against it at all) who had a big vision and a small force to get it done. Where as now I am at a mega church that has a big vision and a large force to get it done.
Man it has been a while since a post...a week ago Tuesday we moved into a new house in St. Michael and have been busy ever since unpacking and organizing and we are still not done! So thus the reason for the "drought" of info but I am back!
Got to run down to Dulonos Pizza in uptown for the bike night and WOW was there alot of bikes. Saw some cool one-off stuff and a few choppers and bobbers that where very inspiring. However there where a few cafe racer styles that really caught my attention. Really want to put one of those together.
