hhmm...interesting.

The price good men pay for indifference to public affairs is to be ruled by evil men.
--Plato (427 BCE- 347 BCE)

New Idea...

I love this concept...if you have never heard of it give it a "look see"! I want to buy a few pairs just to support them...not sure if I would keep them to wear (just not my thing) but then again I am game for anything new!

With that in mind I love this fellas mission statement:

One for One

TOMS Shoes was founded on a simple premise: For every pair you purchase, TOMS will give a pair of shoes to a child in need. One for One. Using the purchasing power of individuals to benefit the greater good is what we're all about.

Combining this mission statement and about 3 hours of good conversation with a great friend and someone who really is way smarter than me...I feel challenged! I want to come up with some thing that will help a little more than what I have. Don't really know how long it will take don't really care just want to start pushing myself beyond (not to sure what that means).

Here is an idea to run with...did you know that 1.1 billion people in developing countries have inadequate access to clean drinking water and 2.6 billion lack basic sanitation...how about a "one for one" idea with bottled water?

How would that work?
What would be the drawbacks?
What would be the positives...despite the obvious one!
What would need to happen for it to get rolling?

Is anyone brave enough to try...not sure that someone isnt already doing this...is anyone brave enough to fail and move on?

Used this last night...

Had an awesome service to kick off the month of Purity here at DYM (Driven Youth Ministries) used this this quote from C.S. Lewis to help talk about Lust and how to Leave Lust Vegas.

Christ--the Only Complete Realist

No man knows how bad he is till he has tried very hard to be good. A silly idea is current that good people do not know what temptation means. This is an obvious lie. Only those who try to resist temptation know how strong it is. After all, you find out the strength of the German Army by fighting it, not by giving in. You find out the strength of the wind by trying to walk against it, not by lying down. A man who gives in to temptation after five minutes simply does not know what it would have been like an hour later. That is why bad people, in one sense, know very little about badness. They have lived a sheltered life by always giving in. We never find out the strength of the evil impulse inside us until we try to fight it: and Christ, because He was the only man who never yield to temptation, is the only man who knows to the full what temptation means-the only complete realist (C.S. Lewis, Mere Christianity).

Blast from the past...

wow this was awhile ago...July of 1994 to be exact! Somewhere between Minsk and Berlin. The train that we are on had started on the China boarder 7 days earlier...lets just say we where happy to roll down the windows to air it out a little!

This is calling me...

wow...this is really calling me right now. I think I need a little break from things. By things I mean the weather more than anything. But a good God break would be nice to do the same thing He did and "separate" myself for a little time of prayer and communing with Him!

It is a pretty road...

Quit stealing my coffee cup...

hhhmmm pretty good idea...i guess.

Some more changes...

The "snack shop" is gone...welcome to the "west side"! Yeah I know all the funny puns and slang that go with that but hey if you know the building it works!

Still interesting how people are so resistant to change, man they can complain when it starts and while its going...and yes usually as it ends they come around to it.

What I dont understand is how we are so resistant to it. I mean it was 5:00 am just a few hours ago and now it is later in the day...that's change...shouldn't we be used to it? On the other hand if nothing changes people complain about that as well...hhmm wonder why?

Change is coming!

Here is the new logo on an old wall...things are changing in DJH.

Makes me wonder why do I hold onto the old "suddenfire" name?

My Weekend...

This is where I spent my weekend...had a wonderful time just figured everyone needed to see where I was. Got to perform a wedding for a wonderful couple Erik and Laura Wegener. She always wanted a destination wedding and was blessed to have one!

It was a beautiful wedding that is without a doubt...I had an awesome time with my best friend, whom I am very thankful is apart of my life...I don't know about any of the other ministers out there but every time I perform a wedding all I can do is a self examination, all that I can say is "I am very thankful for Kelly"!

If you want to see more pictures of the weekend either wait for Kelly to post some on her site or pester her for more pictures...she took them so she can be proud of what she did!

Love those in your life!

...posted by the "boy friend" inside joke...we will let Kelly explain!

Questions...random but questions anyway!

Just kinda wonder sometimes why we tend to go to far...or is this to far? I also wonder how does this person fly? What does TSA make them do to get on a plane? How much weight did this add to the person in question?

What does there mom and dad think? What do I think...aww what do you think?

okay i am done for now...not being mean just wondering!

I passed...

Created by Train Horns

Shared in Prayer the other day...

I did not share this...but I assume Pastor Ray Kelly did in our morning prayer here at LWCC:

Revival ceases when Christians lose the spirit of brotherly love. Christ will not abide with people in a revival any longer than they continue to exercise brotherly love.

When Christians are spiritually on fire, they feel this love and they call each other "brother" or "sister." But when they grow cold, they lose this attachment to one another, and then calling someone brother or sister seems silly and they stop it. In some churches they never use such names; but where Christians are awake, they naturally do it. I never saw a revival where they didn't. But as soon as this love fades, the Spirit of God is grieved and departs from among them.

A revival will decline and end unless Christians are frequently reconverted. In order to remain in the spirit of revival, Christians need to be frequently convinced, humbled and broken before God-"reconverted." Many don't understand when we speak of a Christian being reconverted. But during a revival a Christian's heart is likely to crust over and lose its exquisite delight for divine things; unction and victory in prayer dwindle, and then the Christian must be converted again. He will impede the revival unless he passes through the process every few days.

No one I have ever worked with in an awakening could consistently manage the revival without going through this process of brokenness once every two or three weeks. Revivals often decline because if becomes impossible to make the church feel their guilt and dependence, in order to break them before God. Pastors, understand this, and learn how to soften the church and break yourselves when you need it, or else Christians will become mechanical and lose their fervor and power to prevail with God.

Peter went though this when he denied the Savior. Through his experience of surrender that followed his denial, God prepared him for Pentecost. I am surprised that "brokenness" is a stumbling block to some pastors and people who profess to know Christ. They invite Christ's rebuke, "Are you a teacher of Israel, and do not understand these things?" Until some of them know what it is to be broken, they will do little for the spiritual growth of others.

The above excerpt was taken from page 180 of Lectures on Revival by Charles Finney.

Faith Manifested...

Here is Chayse and the newest addition to the Shirley household...Chrissy!

I have 3 quick things:

1. I am all boy thru and thru...was the only boy growing up. Did not and still kinda don't get girls...but I now get this! I am so happy I was able to be there when this whole thing went down, I know Kelly would love to have been there but as a dad let me just say a few more things make sense!

2. American Girl does an amazing job of customer service! I am still amazed at how much of an intrest they took in Chayse and helping her pick out a doll. For all the girl knew who helped she was just out with her dad and dorky brother! But this lady walked Chayse thru it all and I have to say I am amazed! The lady that checked us out was just as helpfull. Then the young lady that helped Chayse pick out the doll came back over and sat down in the middle of the store with her and spent 20 minutes helping her get it out of the box and walking her thru how to care for the doll!! All I have to say is "worth the money"!

3. I walked away from today with a better understanding of this verse 1Pe 3:7 Likewise, ye husbands, dwell with them according to knowledge! I made a big deal out of Kelly's B-day (and learned alot) so we made a big deal out of today with Chayse (and learned so much more)...with that in mind we are making a big deal out of the 15th of this month as well...for a couple of reasons!

DO NOT MESS WITH THIS LITTLE GIRL!

All I have to say is Do not mess with this little girls faith cause when she puts her faith to something she gets it.

Should have learned from when she was younger we where in a FAO and looking at stuffed fish that she was totally in love with!

We played with it while mom shopped then when it came time to be done I looked at the tag and saw how much and said "No Way"...needless to say she did not!  She didn't pout or throw a fit she just thanked God for it...and 2 days later in Arkansas on a trip to see grandma and grandpa a total stranger walks up and hands Chayse the exact stuffed fish!!

Now to today...she has wanted an American Girl doll for some time and I have not seen fit to buy one (same reason as before $$).  So today she gets in the truck after school with her bag of Valentines and a red box from AG and in this box is a gift certificate to purchase any doll of her choice!!

This little girl never complained or whined about not having what she wanted she was and always has been happy with whatever she has been given...a big key in my book!

Do not mess with this little girls faith!  Makes me wonder what she will believe for next?

I Miss that smile...

I have learned a long time ago there is not much you cannot do if you put your mind to it...however having your best friend around sure makes it a lot funner!

I do miss that smile...not the little one he is still here being a goober...I miss my best friend!

Yes she is in Jamaica on a missions trip and "no" I do not have some huge revelation of how good she is (I already knew that) and how inept I am with out her...cause that is not the case.

Wow that sounds calloused but it is not meant to sound that way...my heart is this...I miss my best friend, and all that she brings to my day! God brought her to me and she is the best helpmate a man could have.

25 random things, facts, habits, or goals

1. I really love my job…yes Jr. Highers are the best so much potential!

2. Both of my shoulders will pop out of place if I move just right…really fun in the middle of the night…to many dislocations over the years, also what ruined my baseball aspirations!

3. When I play any game and I need to focus I sit in a “catchers” stance…I know I am weird but hey if it works…then don’t mess with it!

4.  My real dad (biological) died before I was born…I have never seen a picture or meet any of my relatives on his side of my family…you could say there is a little hole there!

5.  I use humor to deal with tough stuff…see number 5!

6.  My “real” dad (the one who came along at age 4 and raised me) is the most awesome person ever, he has his faults…but I thank God that he came along when he did so I could have someone!

7.  I have rebuilt: a 68 camaro from the ground up new engine and everything, a 68 Boss Camaro from the ground up, a 72 right hand drive 280Z from Japan, a 72 Dodge Adventurer, a 58?? Or something 2 and a half ton flat bed International and getting ready to add two bikes to the list.

8.  I absolutely hate pro baseball…absolutely love college baseball!

9.  I despise pro football…and try not to religiously follow college football!

10.  When I was a kid I stole about 800.00 worth of lumber from a construction site…with the 72 dodge adventurer…do not ever do this!!!  The wood was for a Half Pipe…yes we lied as to where we go the lumber…man we where dumb!

11.  I used to run a mile in about 6 minutes without breaking a sweat…I thought it was a big deal?

12.  I threw three runners out to end an inning in baseball 11 times…once I did it in the first inning of a game and that team did not try to steal the rest of the game.

13.  I do not do anything half way…ask Kelly.

14.  In 8^th grade I dead lifted 515 pounds and set a record that I think still stands…don’t quote me…there where only 4 people who lifted as much or more 2 seniors, 1 junior, and 1 of my 8^th grade buddies!

15.  I had perfect attendance all thru school…yep that’s right I was that fella…never missed a day of school!

16.  I played the trombone in Jr High and some of High School.

17.  I enjoy being alone…but like having people close by…if that makes any sense?

18.  I love being outdoors.

19.  I watched my dad cut a tree down (after telling him I thought the truck was to close) and land it on the front end of the truck…man that sucker bounced!!

20.  I have fallen off of a tractor while it was moving and bounced off the brush hog it was hauling in the process…to this day my dad still doesn’t remember it…that’s why he just kept going and did not stop!

21.  I worked on a golf course growing up and would play 3 to 4 rounds a day…did this for 3 years, lowest score 62…all I remember about that round was it was the only eagle I have ever shot…hole #8 Mountain Home Public Golf Course!

22.  Favorite color is blue…don’t know why just think it is the best!

23.  Wanted to be an underwater welder…good money…short life span!

24. Have way too many ideas for motorcycle trips!

25.  I hate lists!!!!  Because it reminds me of work…I have to live off of them other wise I will not get anything done, so to make a list that doesn’t involve work just irks me!

B-DAY

Yep its her B-day today...I love her cause she is the best!

Nuf said!

Sitting here thinking...

Its one of those nights where I am sitting up reading and thinking and started to remember the pain in my shoulder (yes Kelly is doing the "sleepy time Barbie thing) and why it got to be very hard to keep up with baseball!

I grew up throwing a lot of baseballs meaning I was a catcher for most if not all of my career.  Then came the day I dislocated a shoulder...spare ya the details...and we will come to today!  I played in 3 games of Dogeball against the Sr.High class at MCA today...first time I have thrown anything in a while and man my arm is sore tonight!

Which is why I post this picture of Connor and I on stage as I play bass and he dances along...and all I can think is maybe I want him to learn to play all these instruments and not get injured in sports?

Yes I know I will stand in faith and cover all my kids and thank God for there protection...but I still am thinking!

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Not to sure about this

Cannot figure out whether this is a "wow" thing or not...

Chickens solving the riddles of the human heart!?

Very cool...

I would really like to have a back drop / stage setup like this: