Thursday, February 7, 2008
Royalty Free Music
Check out http://www.twistedtracks.com it is a royalty free music and sound effects website that I have used a couple of times. They offered me a free music track if I did a little grassroots promoting by putting this link on my blog. Well, I am working on another short "Zephyr Film" and I know I could easily find the music I need on twistedtracks.com so here is the link. So for any of my friends that do short film making stuff for churches here is a good resource for you. Enjoy
Thursday, January 24, 2008
Check out Steve's New Look
Look what Wess Foreman can do! My artist buddy did this cool picture of me since I am now a contributor on his blog Popularblur. You should also see his online art Gallery, he does some really cool stuff. Jill and I used to be one of his top art collectors, but I think we have been surpassed.Also if you are into sci-fi reading. Check out his Robot Graveyard online episodic story. It was a lot of fun being apart of the brainstorming for some of these.
Thanks Wess for making me look so cool. Actually I keep laughing everytime I look at this picture. Not sure why :)
FPU #2
Well, I am about start coordinating my second Financial Peace University class. If you haven't heard of Dave Ramsey check it out. Last year was such an incredible experience. Here are some of last years stats. Of the 33 families that took the course the average amount of debt paid off per family was $4969.00 during the 13 weeks. The class as a whole saved about $31,000 dollars total. We even collected all those credit card and loan offers we all got in the mail and added up how much credit was marketed to our class during the 13 weeks. It was 3.3 million dollars. So we avoided 3.3 million dollars worth of debt.
I am hoping that we have a great turn out for this years classes. I have put up fliers all over the church, and passed them out around town. Actually did an interview with my friend Richard Raue who went through the class last year. Be sure and watch his story.
Richard has paid off $22,000 of debt since starting the class last January. He only has about $3,000 to go and he will be debt free!
It is exciting to be apart of so many people lives and making a difference. Pray for us. It is my dream that the community of Ruston, Louisiana would be free from debt and becoming good wise managers of all that God has provided. So they will be able to live life not in bondage to money, but free to use it to God's glory. I get excited to think of what would be possible if every Christian family in Ruston were debt free and living on a budget. We could use our freed up resources and energy to impact Ruston in amazing ways!
I am hoping that we have a great turn out for this years classes. I have put up fliers all over the church, and passed them out around town. Actually did an interview with my friend Richard Raue who went through the class last year. Be sure and watch his story.
Richard has paid off $22,000 of debt since starting the class last January. He only has about $3,000 to go and he will be debt free!
It is exciting to be apart of so many people lives and making a difference. Pray for us. It is my dream that the community of Ruston, Louisiana would be free from debt and becoming good wise managers of all that God has provided. So they will be able to live life not in bondage to money, but free to use it to God's glory. I get excited to think of what would be possible if every Christian family in Ruston were debt free and living on a budget. We could use our freed up resources and energy to impact Ruston in amazing ways!
Monday, January 7, 2008
Back in the saddle again
Well, after going with MawMaw and PawPaw up Farmerville Hwy heading to D'Arbonne to picnic and fish. It got me reminiscent of all my bike training I did going up and down Farmerville hwy. So I got on my bike today to take a ride by myself. Well, here is the evidence.
I was feeling all confident while riding. Feeling like I was really cranking it up those hills, and really flying on those downhills. I knew it was a short ride, but I was going for speed. Well, the numbers brought me down to earth. I feel out of shape. My legs are all wobbly feeling and I only averaged 15mph. BUT it was great to get on the bike and really ride. I love riding with my family it is fun and relaxing (even with towing Ethan in the Trailer), but it is not the same workout. I am hoping to start keeping this up again.
I was feeling all confident while riding. Feeling like I was really cranking it up those hills, and really flying on those downhills. I knew it was a short ride, but I was going for speed. Well, the numbers brought me down to earth. I feel out of shape. My legs are all wobbly feeling and I only averaged 15mph. BUT it was great to get on the bike and really ride. I love riding with my family it is fun and relaxing (even with towing Ethan in the Trailer), but it is not the same workout. I am hoping to start keeping this up again.
Murphy Picnic
Well, the weather wasn't perfect, we caught no fish.... BUT we had a great time!!! Cooking out at D'Arbonne state Park. Thanks MawMaw and PawPaw for coming up!!! It was a great day!
Click here to go to the Web Photo Album
Thursday, January 3, 2008
Book #1 For The Life of the World
Well one of my goals was to read 4 "spiritually challenging" books this next year. One down and 3 to go.
Here is my Book Report.(of sorts)
Here is a thought from the 1st chapter: "The fall is not that he preferred world to God, distorted the balance between the spiritual and material, but that he made the world material, whereas he was to have transformed it into "life in God," filled with meaning and spirit."
Ch2 "For, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy" - thus begins the Gospel, and its end is: "And they worshiped him and returned to Jerusalem with great joy." (Lk. 2:10, 24:52). And we must recover the meaning of this great joy.
Then he goes into experiencing that great joy by describing the beautiful liturgy of the Eucharist. This was really cool.
All things must be transformed to glorify Christ. And the first gift he says we have been given is Time. So along with all things material we also must take time and give it real meaning - redeem it.
Flipping through these pages again... he talks alot about JOY.
Then he goes on to talk about Baptism and the use of water(not talking about how much is needed to make baptism work) then marriage,
My 2nd favorite chapter was on Death. How we have done everything to remove ourselves from the reality of death. We make Funeral homes look so lovely and do everything we can to remove ourselves from the images of death. instead of looking in the face and acknowledging Christ's defeating death. And even Christianity has "adjusted" its thinking in how it deals with death. If Christ came that we might have abundant joy, why do we at a funeral so ofter hear the thoughts of death being a release from a life that is all valleys, pain and suffering. "To comfort people and reconcile them with death by making this world a meaningless scene of an individual preparation for death is".... a tragedy
FOR CHRIST DIED FOR THE LIFE OF THE WORLD, AND NOT FOR AN"ETERNAL REST" FROM IT.
Then he talks about missions... "Christian mission is not to preach Christ, but to be Christians in life.
Then to close- "... to live in the world seeing everything in it as a revelation of God, a sign of His presence, the joy of His coming, the call to communion with Him, the hope for fulfillment in Him. Since the day of Pentecost there is a seal, a ray, a sign of the Holy Spirit on everything for those who believe in Christ and know that He is the life of the world - and that in Him the world in its totality has become again a liturgy, a communion, an ascension."
"A Christian is the one who, wherever he looks, finds Christ and rejoices in Him, And this joy transforms all his human plans and programs, decisions and actions, making all his mission the sacrament of the world's return to Him who is the LIFE OF THE WORLD."
This was a great book(and this was a late night quickie review I hope it made some sense) - and now on to "Knowing God" by J.I. Packer
.
Here is my Book Report.(of sorts)
Here is a thought from the 1st chapter: "The fall is not that he preferred world to God, distorted the balance between the spiritual and material, but that he made the world material, whereas he was to have transformed it into "life in God," filled with meaning and spirit."Ch2 "For, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy" - thus begins the Gospel, and its end is: "And they worshiped him and returned to Jerusalem with great joy." (Lk. 2:10, 24:52). And we must recover the meaning of this great joy.
Then he goes into experiencing that great joy by describing the beautiful liturgy of the Eucharist. This was really cool.
All things must be transformed to glorify Christ. And the first gift he says we have been given is Time. So along with all things material we also must take time and give it real meaning - redeem it.
Flipping through these pages again... he talks alot about JOY.
Then he goes on to talk about Baptism and the use of water(not talking about how much is needed to make baptism work) then marriage,
My 2nd favorite chapter was on Death. How we have done everything to remove ourselves from the reality of death. We make Funeral homes look so lovely and do everything we can to remove ourselves from the images of death. instead of looking in the face and acknowledging Christ's defeating death. And even Christianity has "adjusted" its thinking in how it deals with death. If Christ came that we might have abundant joy, why do we at a funeral so ofter hear the thoughts of death being a release from a life that is all valleys, pain and suffering. "To comfort people and reconcile them with death by making this world a meaningless scene of an individual preparation for death is".... a tragedy
FOR CHRIST DIED FOR THE LIFE OF THE WORLD, AND NOT FOR AN"ETERNAL REST" FROM IT.
Then he talks about missions... "Christian mission is not to preach Christ, but to be Christians in life.
Then to close- "... to live in the world seeing everything in it as a revelation of God, a sign of His presence, the joy of His coming, the call to communion with Him, the hope for fulfillment in Him. Since the day of Pentecost there is a seal, a ray, a sign of the Holy Spirit on everything for those who believe in Christ and know that He is the life of the world - and that in Him the world in its totality has become again a liturgy, a communion, an ascension."
"A Christian is the one who, wherever he looks, finds Christ and rejoices in Him, And this joy transforms all his human plans and programs, decisions and actions, making all his mission the sacrament of the world's return to Him who is the LIFE OF THE WORLD."
This was a great book(and this was a late night quickie review I hope it made some sense) - and now on to "Knowing God" by J.I. Packer
.
Wednesday, December 26, 2007
Christmas 2007
This morning was hilarious. It started with Caleb walking past all the gifts to tell us he can't wait any longer, because he is too excited. We had to wake up Ethan. After saying a prayer and singing happy birthday to Jesus, we ripped into the presents. The presents were all a hit. I really like the book Caleb got from Aunt Bonnie. The Dangerous Book for Boys. This is like the manual for growing up as a boy.
I will never forget Caleb trying to put on Deodorant. He has been wanting to wear mine and be grown up like his Daddy, so we put some in his stocking this year.
Ethan painting on his new easel (we may be mailing out Ethan Originals to all the grandparents), and then both boys having great fun(making a great mess) with Moon Sand.
The next thing that happened was so funny to me. God didn't make it snow in Ruston this Christmas, but He put frost on the ground. Caleb, Ethan and the neighborhood boys put water in the wagon, and some other containers in the backyard to see if it would turn to ice over night. So they rushed out to check on their project.... sure enough there was ice, but then after the moment of playing with ice was over - they noticed the frost. The way they were acting you would have thought we had 2 inches of snow on the ground. They were running in and out of the house showing off leaves they found with frost on it. Running and sliding on it, trying to climb up the slide covered in frost.
We did come in very shortly after that with cold red hands and cheeks.
Ethan loves is electronic plastic guitar, and his Stomp video... He has been beating pots and pans all day today.
I have also discovered that Caleb is really good at Connect Four. He has beaten me more games than I wish to admit.
This has been a great Christmas. We have raised a good bit of money at Church to dig a well in Malawi. We got to deliver some food from our small group to a family we are trying to help out. We had a lot of good family time. I praise God for this great year.
I will never forget Caleb trying to put on Deodorant. He has been wanting to wear mine and be grown up like his Daddy, so we put some in his stocking this year.
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| From 2007 Christma... |
Ethan painting on his new easel (we may be mailing out Ethan Originals to all the grandparents), and then both boys having great fun(making a great mess) with Moon Sand.
 |
| From 2007 Christma... |
The next thing that happened was so funny to me. God didn't make it snow in Ruston this Christmas, but He put frost on the ground. Caleb, Ethan and the neighborhood boys put water in the wagon, and some other containers in the backyard to see if it would turn to ice over night. So they rushed out to check on their project.... sure enough there was ice, but then after the moment of playing with ice was over - they noticed the frost. The way they were acting you would have thought we had 2 inches of snow on the ground. They were running in and out of the house showing off leaves they found with frost on it. Running and sliding on it, trying to climb up the slide covered in frost.
We did come in very shortly after that with cold red hands and cheeks.
Ethan loves is electronic plastic guitar, and his Stomp video... He has been beating pots and pans all day today.I have also discovered that Caleb is really good at Connect Four. He has beaten me more games than I wish to admit.
This has been a great Christmas. We have raised a good bit of money at Church to dig a well in Malawi. We got to deliver some food from our small group to a family we are trying to help out. We had a lot of good family time. I praise God for this great year.
Tuesday, December 25, 2007
The Christmas Photo Collection 07
Here are the 2007 Christmas Photos. I hope you enjoy
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'tis the season to decorate!
We just finished tiling the master bathroom. I am pretty excited that it went so good.
We also painted the boys room. We have them sharing a room right now, and actually I think it has been a really good thing for them to share a room together. Jill and I are seeing some differences in how they treat each other.
So here are some pictures of the hard work. We did a "brothers" theme.
Click on the links to see more pictures.
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| Bathroom tile |
We also painted the boys room. We have them sharing a room right now, and actually I think it has been a really good thing for them to share a room together. Jill and I are seeing some differences in how they treat each other.
So here are some pictures of the hard work. We did a "brothers" theme.
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| From Brothers New ... |
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| From Brothers New ... |
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| From Brothers New ... |
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| From Brothers New ... |
Monday, December 24, 2007
Christmas Eve 2007
The Prayer of Confession and Pardon that was read at the Midnight Candlelight service at Trinity:
Gather us gracious God in the warmth of your presence. Grant us grace on this Christmas Eve to be honest. We have not been the church you called us to be. Rather than confess and repent of our sin we find it easier to blame others and justify ourselves. While this time is to prepare for your coming, so much of our hope and faith rests on what we can do for ourselves. Yet we confess to you this evening that what we can do is not enough. We live in a troubled world and we cannot seem to change this world no matter how hard we try. We need your light. We need your peace. We need your love. We need you. Amen.
Tonight as I am minutes away from seeing Christmas morning, this prayer of confession has seemed to struck a chord with me.
Gather us gracious God in the warmth of your presence. Grant us grace on this Christmas Eve to be honest. We have not been the church you called us to be. Rather than confess and repent of our sin we find it easier to blame others and justify ourselves. While this time is to prepare for your coming, so much of our hope and faith rests on what we can do for ourselves. Yet we confess to you this evening that what we can do is not enough. We live in a troubled world and we cannot seem to change this world no matter how hard we try. We need your light. We need your peace. We need your love. We need you. Amen.
Tonight as I am minutes away from seeing Christmas morning, this prayer of confession has seemed to struck a chord with me.
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