Memories...

So on Monday of this week, I drove to Creston Iowa for a project at work. On the drive I had the windows down, it was a beautiful morning outside. Nice and cool, probably in the 70's. As I was driving between Osceola and Creston, I was hit in the face with the most amazing smell of the countryside. Let me back up and just say, there is something about Iowa countryside with the rolling hills and pure sweet smells that release from the earth in the morning and different times of the day for that matter. Those of you that live/d out in rural areas know what Im talking about ... there is a certain odor in the morning hours and then in the afternoon and then evening. Maybe you havent noticed, maybe your sniffer doesnt work as well as mine, but they are amazing and I pray that an awakening of your schnoz happens while you read this. :)

 Anyway, back to the drive, as I was driving and this scent drifted into my car I was immediately snapped back to when I was 4-7 years old. My grand-dads were awesome, both displayed an amazing love for me that was constant, deep, and strong. Strong in the sense of the word and strong in how you expect a father figure to love. They were quite different though, Stanley(Grandpa Miller, my dads dad) was quiet, gentle, but stern. Grandpa Miller wasnt crazy active in my life, but it was all good, because it wasnt about the number of times we spent together, but the quality of the times I had.

 Then there is Grandpa Connett(Gail/Robert - moms dad) that this post is even being birthed from. So Grandpa C - GC from here on out, was active in my life growing up early on and from what I remember we would spend A LOT of time together during the summer. My aunt and uncle moved to Minnesota when I was around six or so, leaving GC all to myself. :) During the summer months, it seems like we would go fishing a couple times a week. Now when GC wanted to take you fishing, you spent the night and were up at like 4-5am to get the jump on the fish. Fishing mornings consisted of waking up super early and GC would cook breakfast on a camping stove(green Coleman) out on his deck. Generally it was eggs, Old Folks mild sausage, toast, OJ/Milk for me, and coffee for him. He would then pack up an old Thermos brand thermos with the rest of the coffee. Oh and depending on what we would be fishing for, the previous day we would head to the store. If catfish were in our sights, he would pick up a container of chicken/turkey livers, this would totally gross us kids out. What was worse, is he would sit those livers in their container out in the sun the whole prior day before going fishing. So back to the scent memory, which I think are absolutely amazing. Its so wild how we are so wonderfully made that experiences, can snap us to such sweet times in our lives. So Im driving and this scent came into the car and I was snapped back to a little boy driving through the countryside with my head rested halfway out the window in my GC's 1970's copper colored Chevy 1/2 ton pickup. Wind blowing in my face/hair and that sweet morning scent of the Iowa countryside ravished my senses. I would float in and out of sleeping, trying to get fueled up for the most amazing, lazy, wonderfully relaxing(to a six year old) time with my Grandpa Connett. Just he and I, sitting in a boat, on a lake, all alone, fishing the day away.

 My GC is passed, but if he were here, I would tell him ... I love you grandpa! Thank you for loving me, thank you for serving me, thank you for the time you insisted on spending with me. You were an amazing man!

Holy Moly Macaroni!!!

Dear Blogspot,
Wow its been a LONG time since I have posted anything. Part of me feels a little goofy not deleting this site, but then maybe it could be therapeutic for me. :)

Since last year(hahaha) things have been interesting to say the least. Lets see ... how about a list.

1. The parent company(Iowa Telecom) for the company(Baker Communications) I work for was bought out by Windstream out of Little Rock, Arkansas

2. Manda and I hooked up with a group(about 8 families) of amazing people from our church to work on a community garden, but more importantly live and share life together

3. This should probably be in position #1, but these are listed in no means of importance, Manda and I cleaned our basement out. Ya I know that doesnt seem like such a big deal, but if you saw our basement prior, you would say YEP big deal.

4. Some home upgrades happened and will continue to happen this year in hopes to sell our home next year.

5. Anxiously anticipating our ten year anniversary and trip to Cape San Blas, Florida. We rented an awesome beach house and should be a lot of fun, unless the beach is soaked with oil. :P

Well, thats all for now.

Conversations of a six year old Eli ... :)

On the way home from dinner Eli rode with me in the Jeep, while Manda and Madeline went to Walmart. Here is my best recollection of a hilarious conversation.

Eli: Dad? Do you know what my favorite animal is?
Dad: What Eli?
Eli: A sabertooth tiger, I wish I had one.
Dad: Why Eli?
Eli: Because their fangs are so big, there cool
Dad: Ya know Eli, a sabertooth tiger would eat you
Eli: Not if I had a bee-bee gun.
Dad: Dude a bee-bee gun is not going to hurt a sabertooth tiger
Eli: Would a rocket-gun hurt a tiger?
Dad: Probably so ... yes
Eli: Dad? Are you strong enough to pick up a rocket?
Dad: Depends on the rocket
Eli: Dad? Would a fighter jet be able to hurt a sabertooth tiger? A fighter jet with rockets?
Dad: Yes Im sure it could
Eli: Dad? Are you strong enough to lift a rocket from a figher jet?

Pulling into the driveway I think to myself ... I love my son, not because he wants to blow up a sabertooth tiger with a rocket from a figher-jet ... well maybe thats part of it. :)

Spring time colds = TEH SUCK, but ...

OK so ya ... I guess its not spring time now since we are past Memorial day and the official start of summer. I dodged all of the really nasty colds and junk that had been going around not only at the office but also at home. I think my family was sick two times were I dodged the bullet, but alas ... I have been strickin' by some sort of nasty sinus thing.

I started out the day with a nasty drippy soggy nose, sore throat. Went to work and one of my cubicle mates Grandpa Rick :) hooked me up with Zicam and a dose of airborne of which I felt pretty good a little while later, but then this garbage hit me like a brick. Came home early just after lunch and slept the afternoon away.

I have always had this fascination with neti pots and if they actually work or not. I came across a gal that had a video post about using one for the first time, did a quick search on Walgreens and sent Manda up to get me one.

The experience? WEIRD! Like Dr Who wierd, Im not even sure what is weirder than Dr Who, but if there is something ya that would be it. I will say this, I feel TONS better after cleansing my sinuses hehe ... the head-ache/pressure is gone and Im not blowing my nose every five minutes. I have also stopped sneezing ... interesting observation I just realized.

So lesson of the day? Dont be freaky deaky about natural remedies.

- Im a little neti pot short and stout, hear is my handle, hear is my booger cleanser

Later

My kids rock!

OK so ya every parent says that their kids rock for one reason or another, but here is why my kids RIZOCK THE HIZOUSE!

They have been extremely obedient lately (or so it seems) when we ask them to do something around the house. Granted there is dilly-dallying by the King Dilly Dallier himself AKA Eli, but for the most part there has been a blessed presence around the house. So anyways ... why the kiddos rock ... you know those cool little seeds that twirl down to the ground ... the ones that as a kid were so fun to throw up in the air and watch them "helicopter" to the ground? How many adults out there still find these things amusing? We have three of these trees in a row up our street starting at the neighbor to the north of us. For some reason this year, they (the trees) seem to have produced four to five times the amount of seedlings than normal. Last week I mowed and swept all of these bleepity things up off of the driveway. Had things looking GREAT(or as great as our yard can look) and I got back from the Heartland mens retreat this past Saturday(WHICH ROCKED!!!!) ... well lets just say that there was three times the amount on the ground then the first time I tidy'ed up. OOH JEESH this post is getting stupidly long ...

Praise the KIDDOS!!! So tonight I am working in the yard and I draft the kids help in picking up helicopter seeds from around the plants and in the front were we planted some things. Now normally you would probably expect to hear grumbling, complaining, using the bathroom fifty times, seventy-five drinks of water, etc ... :)

NOPE! The kids did a great job tonight .. its not perfect but it looks TONS better than what it did. Yep ... my kids 8 and 6 yrs old ... helping dad out in the yard picking up stupid helicopter seeds and they did it almost cheerfully.


Thank you Jesus for the great kids you have blessed Manda and me with. I love you!
Amen-

Spring time ... I love it

Yep .. I love spring. Its busy with alot of birthdays, but I love it. From Easter to three of our immediate family's birthdays. Eli - 4/9, mine - 4/30, and Mandas - 5/8. Tie in all of that celebration and a wondrous little gift from God. Its sometimes yellow, sometimes grey, sometimes white. It resembles a sponge and grows from out of the ground. ITS FUNGUS!!!! YAAAY FUNGUS!!! :)

Aaah the morel mushroom, a sure sign that mothers day is close and that you are in for a real treat. If you like mushrooms that is.

So here are some steps to joyful glee and a happy tummy.

1. Go trudge around in the forest and if your lucky come home with something that looks like this.



2. Rinse and half.



3. Grab a stick of butter (YEP THE WHOLE STICK YOU FAT FEARING WIERDOS OUT THERE), dust the little nuggets of goodness with flour, and fry your heart out. :)








Dig in and enjoy. :)

Thats all for now peeps ... happy hunting.

Take me out to the ball game ...

Oh my word ... Eli age 5(almost 6) is now signed up and to be playing Tee-ball this year. Manda and I have talked about it the past couple of years and Eli has recently expressed wanting to play some ball. So here we are, signed up, and ready for our first meeting. So on Saturday we are heading over to scheels to pick up a few items of "necessity". Some swanky baseball pants, cleats, and maybe a new glove and bat. Oh theres no probably to it ... we will be sucked into the whole dealio. Eli will probably walk out of the store decked out with batting gloves to boot.

Oh heres the killer piece of this post ... so I headed over to www.littleleague.org to check out tips and such for the new adventure we are about to embark on. Ill just post a screenshot so you can see how absurd such a pure and American classic such as baseball has become. What the crock?!!! Its freaking little league people.



Yep ... you are seeing correctly. Evidently there are some parents out there that give their 8-10 year old steroids for the leg up on the rest of the kids. Freaking sick man ... sick.

Beauty

... the blessings my saviour continues to bestow on my life
... the sight of our 8 year old daughter dancing with reckless abandon during worship
... the relentless prayer for those in our family and those we dont even know from our 5 year old son
... the persistence of my gorgeous wife to work out and choose healthier eating habits(if only I had her drive)
... the delight and favor of God for me, his son
... the pursuit and the chasing of my heart by a loving and heavenly Daddy

WHEW ... been a long time

Shiza ... its been a month and a half since I have posted. Granted the last two were quite meaty in length and maybe TMI ... but it is what it is.

Not a whole lot to share this go around ... heading to Cedar Rapids tomorrow for two days. The company I work for has a customer in that neck of the woods that I am expanding their Cisco VoIP Telephony infrastructure at a satellite office. Should be ok ... I have done most of the pre-configuration remotely over the past week and a half, so pray for me that the rest goes without problems.

On a music note I have been really enjoying Jason Upton, Kim Walker, and the worship team from IHOP in Kansas City. Podcast wise ... Mike Bickle and his Encountering Jesus sessions (http://www.ihop.org/Group/Group.aspx?ID=1000036187) have been BLOWING my mind. And Im only on session 4 of 12, but I need to stop listening and catch up with Manda since we are trying to experience that togethor. Lets see ... anything else Im listening to is oldie but goodie. :)



Jesus bless you and your family!

Flesh wrestling ...

Fasting ... so the new church that Manda and I were so graciously called to some six months ago are initiating a 21 day prayer and fast session starting today(correction by my lovely wife - Jan 3rd). This was announced a couple months ago I think and I have really been thinking about partaking in this excercise to not only experience what miracles and blessings God has in store for me but also my wife and kids.

I have heard and read about the term fasting before but never understood how powerful it can be in your walk and relationship with Christ. My grandparents(Miller side of family) practiced a sort of fasting/peace every Sunday. My grandfather Ralph Stanley passed away this spring after a battle with cancer that lasted (that we knew about) for just around three years. My grandpa has to be the most humble and amazing man I have known ... granted Im sure he had his faults, not entirely his doing but the impartation of his generation of which I hold no condemnation. He and grandma where pretty serious about this fasting business. I remember as a kid trying to get them to fix me something to eat Sunday afternoons/evenings when I was spending the night and it was a no go. I thought they where crazy then. :)

So back to this fasting thing ... I have been thinking about what I would give up. The extreme of course is no food, which is doable (not by me of course, but the power of the Holy Spirit), no video games/movies/entertainment/etc. (again only doable by the conviction and power of the Spirit), oh sugar ... anything I deny myself is going to be tough, but only doable by bending my mind, heart, and ear to the speaking of the Holy Spirit.

Case in point this afternoon (I digress) ... now the past year or so has been filled with some huge changes for me and all for the better, BUT and that is a enormous, insurmountable BUT, there are a vast ocean of changes left and I realize that whole heartedly. First major change was in how I spent my "personal/alone" time. Prior to spring 2008 I sunk it into video games online ... part of me ashamed at how much time I invested into the more popular PC games out right now (World of Warcraft). There were weeks I would play twenty to thirty hours a week (Oh sweet saviour Jesus thank you for delivering me from that) I read that over and think ... thats a part time job on top of a full time job, struggeling at being a husband, father, friend, son, etc ... That deliverance happened last spring (2008) of which I am most thankful for. The second was direction to our new church (Heartland Assembly) which I believe is the spring board for me and my family into a deeper and more amazing relationship with our saviour.

OK so to this afternoon ... Im trying to figure out how Im being led in this fast ... Ive been ill the past couple days so not feeling the greatest. Have been preparing my body this week to cut a major portion of food out of my diet if not all. I really want to experience what God wants me to. Get up this afternoon around 2pm (was supposed to go to my niese's birthday party but felt like roadkill) took a shower, sat down on the couch and really wrestled with what I would do with the afternoon. Pop on the XBOX and play a bit? No Chad ... no video games, listen to some worship music or Dan Mohler/Bill Johnson? That didnt sound right either. Popped on the XBOX ... grrr defeat ... fiddled around for about an hour thinking to myself(or being spoken to) your wasting your time ... you cant get it back. Shut the idiot box off and went to the kitchen. Contemplated eating leftover chinese from new years eve "party" with Manda and the kids or drinking a protien shake(my decision for some sort of something my stomach could be tricked into thinking it was being fed), turned to the chinese. Had an egg roll and five bites of garlic chicken only to throw the rest away that I had on my plate.

Told myself enough ... get in the living room and pray. So there I was ... walking around our living room looking for something to do ... contemplated two books - Gods Generals and Prayer and Fasting, both where addressed in my head with large NO's. I said ok God ... what then ... IMMEDIATELY popped in my "get my book and read Phillipians 3". I was like OK ... like other times before I have thought of scripture references thinking it was an answer to the current struggle and opened it to find absolutely no relevance to what I was dealing with.

Check this out though ... Phillipians 3 ... highlight #1 for the chapter
No Confidence in the Flesh ... I actually started to shake ... are you kidding me???!!?? This is freaking AWESOME I thought, I immediately thanked God for what he was showing me. Highlight #2 ??? Pressing on Toward the Goal ... HAHAHA! I loved it ... I think my favorite part of the passage is the last verse .. 21 ... it reads

who, by the power that enables him to bring everything under his control, will trasform our lowly bodies so that they will be like his glorious body.



Phillipians 3 will definately be my favorite passage of scripture. Until the next outpouring of wisdom happens.


Thank you Jesus ... I love you

George Washington ... Prophetic? Who knew??!?

So it was probably about three to four months ago and my mom(Delite) had us watch a video called Finger of God. If you havent seen or heard - www.fingerofgodfilm.com - check it out. just know that the video will stretch you, wreck you, and make you consider your faith or maybe the lack of in our most awesome God and creator.

Anyways ... I watched the film, changed forever, watched it again with Manda and the kids, watched excerpts again on YouTube. I started digging around the net and found Heidi Bakers site and another titled Extreme Prophetic. While parusing those sites I found a historical account of George Washington that blew my mind. At first it made me kind of upset, because I had NEVER EVER heard stories like this about our founding fathers. Pretty pathetic really that our historical accounts, documents are being stripped of these types of amazing stories. Enough of my jibber-jabber ... on with the document. Its kind of a long read, but its WAY COOL!!!! Read on. :)

-------------------------------
GEORGE WASHINGTON'S PROPHESY OF AMERICA

The father of our country, George Washington, was a man of prayer. We have all read of how he went to the thicket many times to pray during the winter his army was at Valley Forge. However, little publicity has been given to the vision and prophecy he received at that time. The account of this vision was given in 1859 by an old soldier. He gave it to a writer, Wesley Bradshaw, who published it. In the vision God revealed to George Washington that three great perils would come upon the Republic. He was given to know that America was going through the first peril at that time. The old soldier who told the story of the vision said that the nation would soon see the account verified by the second peril descending upon the land. We give the account here as it was reprinted in the U. S. war veterans' paper The National Tribune, in December, 1880. The National Tribune is now called The Stars and Stripes. This article was reprinted in the Stars and Stripes December 21,1950. Here is the report of this phenomenal and most important heavenly message for us at this hour. Wesley Bradshaw wrote: The last time I ever saw Anthony Sherman was on the fourth of July 1859, in Independence Square. He was then ninety-nine years old, and becoming very feeble. But though so old, his dimming eyes rekindled as he gazed upon Independence Hall, which he came to visit once more.

MESSAGE DISCLOSED
"Let us go into the hall," he said. "I want to tell you of an incident of Washington's life-one which no one alive knows of except myself; and if you live, you will before long see it verified. Mark the prediction, you will see it verified." "From the opening of the Revolution we experienced all phases-of fortune, now good and now ill, one time victorious and another conquered. The darkest period we had, I think, was when Washington after several reverses, retreated to Valley Forge, where he resolved to pass the winter of 1777. Ah! I have often seen the tears coursing down our dear commander's care-worn cheeks, as he would be conversing with a confidential officer about the condition of his poor soldiers. You have doubtless heard the story of Washington's going to the thicket to pray. Well, it was not only true, but he used often to pray in secret for aid and comfort. And God brought us safely through the darkest days of tribulation." "One day, I remember it well, the chilly winds whistled through the leafless trees, though the sky was cloudless and the sun shone brightly. He remained in his quarters nearly all the afternoon, alone. When he came out I noticed that his face was a shade paler than usual, and there seemed to be something on his mind of more than ordinary importance. Returning just after dusk, he dispatched an orderly to the quarters of an officer, who was presently in attendance. After a preliminary conversation of about half an hour, Washington, gazing upon his companion with that strange look of dignity which he alone could command, said to
the latter:

AN UNINVITED GUEST
"I do not know whether it is owing to the anxiety of my mind, or what, but this afternoon, as I was sitting at this table engaged in preparing a dispatch, something in the apartment seemed to disturb me. Looking up, I beheld standing opposite me a singularly beautiful being. So astonished was I, for I had given strict orders not to be disturbed that it was some moments before I found language to inquire the cause of the visit. A second, a third, and even a fourth time did I repeat my question, but received no answer from my mysterious visitor except a slight raising of the eyes." "By this time I felt strange sensations spreading through me. I would have risen but the riveted gaze of the being before me rendered volition impossible. I assayed once more to speak, but my tongue had become useless, as if paralyzed. A new influence, mysterious, potent, irresistible, took possession of me. All I could do was to gaze steadily, vacantly at my unknown visitor." "Gradually the surrounding atmosphere seemed to fill with sensations, and grew luminous. Everything about me seemed to rarefy, the mysterious visitor also becoming more airy and yet more distinct to my sight than before. I began to feel as one dying, or rather to experience the sensations, which I have sometimes imagined, accompany death. I did not think, I did not reason, I did not move. All were alike impossible. I was only conscious of gazing fixedly, vacantly at my companion."

FIRST GREAT PERIL
"Presently I heard a voice saying, 'Son of the Republic, look and learn,' while at the same time my visitor extended an arm eastward. I now beheld a heavy white vapor at some distance rising fold upon fold. This gradually dissipated, and I looked upon a strange scene. Before me lay, spread out in one vast plain, all the countries of the world-Europe, Asia, Africa and America. I saw rolling and tossing between Europe and America the billows of the Atlantic, and between Asia and America lay the Pacific. 'Son of the Republic,' said the same mysterious voice as before, 'look and learn.' "At that moment I beheld a dark, shadowy being, like an angel, standing, or rather floating in mid-air, between Europe and America. Dipping water out of the ocean in the hollow of each hand, he sprinkled some upon America with his right hand, while with his left he cast some over Europe. Immediately a cloud arose from these countries, and joined - in mid-ocean. For awhile it remained stationary, and then it moved slowly westward, until it enveloped America in its murky folds. Sharp flashes of lightning gleamed through it at intervals, and I heard the smothered groans and cries of the American people.

SECOND GREAT PERIL
"A second time the angel dipped water from the ocean and sprinkled it out as before. The dark cloud was then drawn back to the ocean, in whose heaving billows it sank from view." "A third time I heard the mysterious voice saying, 'Son of the Republic, look and learn.' I cast my eyes upon America and beheld villages and towns and cities springing Up one after another until the whole land from the Atlantic to the Pacific was dotted with them. Again, I heard the mysterious voice say, 'Son of the Republic, the end of the century comes, look and learn." "And this time the dark shadowy angel turned his face southward. From Africa I saw an ill-omened specter approach our land. It flitted slowly and heavily over every town and city of the latter. The inhabitants presently set themselves in battle array against each other.

As I continued looking I saw a bright angel on whose brow rested a crown of light, on which was traced the word 'UNION.' He was bearing the American flag. He placed the flag between the divided nation and said, 'Remember, you are brethren.' "Instantly the inhabitants, casting down their weapons, became friends once more and united around the National Standard." "Again I heard the mysterious voice saying, 'Son of the Republic look and learn.' At this the dark, shadowy angel placed a trumpet to his mouth, and blew three distinct blasts; and taking water from the ocean, he sprinkled it upon Europe, Asia and Africa.

THIRD AND MOST FEARFUL PERIL
"Then my eyes beheld a fearful scene. From each of these continents arose thick black clouds that were soon joined into one. And throughout this mass there gleamed a dark red light by which I saw hordes of armed men. These men, moving with the cloud, marched by land and sailed by sea to America, which country was enveloped in the volume of cloud. And I dimly saw these vast armies devastate the whole country and ~ the villages, towns and cities which I had seen springing up." "As my ears listened to the thundering of the cannon, clashing of the swords, and the shouts and cries of millions in mortal combat, I again heard the mysterious voice saying, 'Son of the Republic, look and learn." Where the voice had ceased, the dark shadowy angel placed his trumpet once more to his mouth, and blew a long and fearful blast."

HEAVEN INTERVENES
"Instantly a light as of a thousand suns shone down from above me, and pierced and broke into fragments the dark cloud which enveloped America. At the same moment the angel upon whose head still shown the word UNION, and who bore our national flag in one hand, and a sword in the other, descended from the heavens attended by, legions of white spirits. These immediately joined the inhabitants of America, who I perceived were well-nigh overcome, but who immediately taking courage again, closed up their broken ranks and renewed the battle." "Again, amid the fearful noise of the conflict I heard the mysterious voice saying, 'Son of the Republic, look and learn.' As the voice ceased the shadowy angel for the last time dipped water from the ocean and sprinkled it upon America. Instantly the dark cloud rolled back, together with the armies it had brought, leaving the inhabitants of the land victorious."

"Then once more, I beheld the villages, towns and cities springing up where I had seen them before, while the bright angel, planting the azure standard he had brought in the midst of them, cried with the loud voice: "While the stars remain, and the heaven send down dew upon the earth, so long shall the UNION last." And taking from his brow the crown on which blazoned the word 'UNION,' he placed it upon the Standard while the people, kneeling down, said 'Amen."

THE INTERPRETATION
The scene instantly began to fade and dissolve, and I, at last saw nothing but the rising, curling vapor I at first beheld. This also disappeared, and I found myself once more gazing upon the mysterious visitor, who, in the same voice I had heard before, said, 'Son of the Republic, what you have seen is thus interpreted; Three great perils will come upon the Republic. The most fearful for her is the third. But the whole world united shall not prevail against her. Let every child of the Republic learn to live for his God, his land, and UNION" With these words the vision vanished, and I started from my seat and felt that I had seen a vision wherein had been shown me the birth, the progress, and the destiny of the United States.'"

'Such, my friends," the venerable narrator concluded, were the words I heard from Washington's own lips, and America will do well to profit by them."

Blessed Christmas

To any who come across and read this posting I wish you had a most Blessed and spirit filled Merry Christmas. The day is now come and gone but not over.

I have so many things to be thankful for ... so many blessings upon my life. My wife is the most amazing and wonderful being ever to grace my life. Thank you Jesus for crossing our paths some eight and a half years ago.

My kids rock! They bring so much joy to my life and the mantle of grace and Jesus filled nature is surely laid upon them. Both of my kids are manifesting the love and supernatural powers of our awesome God more and more each day, but there is something most special happening in Eli. He calls his hands magic hands. :) We dropped the kids off at my mom's last night so they could spend some extra Christmas time with their Nanna and Poppy. Before we left there was mention of Randy(my step-dad) cutting his chin with a razor last week while shaving and how it is completely healed, no mark, nothing. My mom turned to Manda and I and said - last week when Randy showed the kids his cut, Eli turned to Madeline and said "come on Madeline, when two come togethor prayers are answered". They laid hands on Randy and well ... the cut healed extraordinarily quick. Kids ... specially at the age of five dont talk like that. At least not most kids I know ... I think its awesome and it excites me to see them both grow. I LOVE IT!!!!

Whats more amazing than a simple cut being healed is the power and ministry Jesus is doing through our kids to the people in their lives that they are touching and will in the future. I LOVE IT! Thank you Jesus!

So Christmas Eve? It was nice ... laid back as usual, kids had a blast with their cousins, and the adults had a really awesome time just sitting around talking, laughing, and opening up some very practical gifts. Sure there was some "want" gifts thrown into the mix but definately needed gifts given for everyone.

My in-law's are a couple of amazing, spirit filled, loving, oh heck scratch the "in-law" word and lets just call them parents, because I definately regard them with the love and respect that parents deserve. I have never been one to purchase or investigate companion books to the Bible. Ya I have devotional/inspirational books of sorts, but never a study guide IE Strongs, etc. Anyways ... they gave me the Hayford Bible Handbook this year which is really cool from what I have flipped through so far. Im excited to dig in and start uncovering some new treasures. Manda and I also both recieved the book Love Dare, which is a study spun off from the movie Fireproof that was in the theatres this fall. Manda and I didnt make it to the movie, but we will be going through the study sometime soon. Its a forty day excercise that honestly Im scared/apprehensive to go through. BUT! I know that something amazing will come out of it because of those feelings and I am excited to press in and see what our most awesome and mighty God does.

Ive learned something the later half of this year ... that when I have feelings of doubt, fear, apprehension towards something or somewhere I am most likely to meet God in or at, then I need to step out and get to that place as soon as possible. Those are the most important times in our lives because thats when the most amazing and supernatural experiences happen.

Well I think that is all for now ... again Merry Christmas and a most blessed new year to you and your family.

Thank you Jesus ... I love you!

One more day!!!

Oooooh Christmas time, I can not believe that it is upon us already. It seems like just yesterday my dad and I were working ourselves to death in the back yard on our deck.

And what is up with the crazy weather?!!?? Two Sundays ago we walk out to the van to head to church and the temp read 51 degrees. In a matter of 15 minutes it had dropped to 37 and by the time service was over it was a balmy 17 degrees. Hahaha got to love Iowa weather.

I have a newfound love for Christmas this year ... thank you Jesus. In the past it has been almost a chore and not even really enjoyable. Filled with stressfull shopping and anticipation/ill thoughts of the multiple trips to the parents(times 3), two more Christmas gatherings some years for my divorced grandparents, and on top of that hauling of WAY TO MUCH stuff back home.

So whats different about this year over the rest? Simple, the miracle of Gods love for us through His most special gift ... Jesus.

I have heard the "story" hundreds of times and as I have believed for so many years, the words have transformed to something so much more, of a precious baby Jesus that was given to us as the greatest sacrifice we will ever know.

The story is absolutely amazing to consider the people involved and what they had to have gone through - physically, mentally, and emotionally. I mean lets just take Mary and Joseph for the sake of me not writing till my fingers bleed and you stop reading this to check out the latest item on woot.com. So heres this dude who see's this hottie going back and forth to the well or tending a field or whatever they did in that time, probably pays some crazy dowry for Mary's hand, and between the time they are "engaged" and the ceremony/consemation of their marriage happens the Holy Spirit swoops down and BLAMO! Mary is prego, bun in the oven, etc. OK so ya thats wierd, but what about Mary!!!

Imagine her sitting down taking a break and the angel Gabriel presents before her and exclaims she is carrying the Son of God. I can not imagine what these two went through ... people are no more synical now than they where then. So my guess is A) people thought she was a tramp or B) that her and Joseph came togethor before being wed. Both being EXTREMELY scandalis for that day and age.

Then you have Joseph ... by the way I think Joseph has to be one of the most honerable dudes in history. He could have said she was nuts, said forget this chick, and found another to marry. He could have joined in with the rest of the village and stoned her for committing adultry. NO! He listened to the almighty God, said to heck with my reputation and did whatever God told him to do. They both did ... said forget my reputation, listened to God, and followed His instruction in their lives.

Speed forward nine months to the birth of Jesus or the night of rather. Oh to have been one of the shepards in the fields that night to have seen the spectacular event
spewing forth from the heavens. Some of you that read this may have been lucky enough in your lives to have experienced the Aurora Borealis/northern lights ... thats beautiful and all, but angels and oodles of heavenly hosts singing, praising, and worshiping Jesus as He is born? I just cant imagine what it was like to experience that.

So ya ... when I think about Christmas this year, its different ... way different. Its not stressfull, not a chore, but a really cool time that I can get with my family, bless others with gifts, and let the reality of the most blessed gift ever given really soak into my life.

I wish you and your family a most Blessed, loving, beautiful Christmas ever!

How Great is our God ... Thanksgiving

I hope that you had a wonderful Thanksgiving ... ours was pretty good, noneventful in any bad ways which is awesome, Thank you Jesus.

The deck is almost done ... so close I can taste it hehe. We have the "frame" of the handrail done and stairs are completed all around. We made a very smart move and worked on it last Wednesday. Now there is like 5 inches of snow ... ugh ... it would appear no more work until spring, but thats ok.

Back to Thanksgiving ... turkey was awesome, taters nummy and coma inducing, rolls and green bean casserole very tasty - Thank you my loverly wife - stuffing ... well ok so Im just going to call it like I tasted. :) I love my mother in-law and usually her stuffing launches me into another world of food induced extasy, but for whatever reason this year it was a touch off. Maybe it was the cold that has gripped my sinuses I dunno. So ya everything and the pie was satisfying, 'cept for the stuffing. Hehe ...

Anyways on to the title of this post ... mum-in-law sat us all down and shared an AMAZING video of which I will link here on you tube.

Do yourself a favor ... get a nice cup of tea, coffee, wine, whatever and watch each part. There is like five ... yes it will take you a while ... like 45-50 minutes but it is so worth it. Its the coolest thing I have seen, heard, etc in a long time. Well actually about two or three weeks ... when Dan Mohler spoke at our church. Dont know who Dan Mohler is?

http://www.neckministries.com/preachings.htm

... download some mp3's and be ministered to. :)

On to the cool videos ...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_82lZ2PpYQE&feature=related

WOOT! Tuneage on my little carved out space of the Intarweb

So ya I found this little ditty tonight called Playlist ... freaking AWESOME!!! Makes me want to put all of the stuff Im listening to right now on my iPod on this thing hehe. I just want to share the awesome tuneage I have been so blessed to be introduced to over the past couple of months.

You might hit pause, stop, you might close down the page as fast as the playlist starts ... my recommendation ... let it roll, turn up the speakers on your PC to right before they start to distort, turn off all of the distractions - IM, cell phone, home phone, throw the dog or pets in another room and just soak up His love.

You also might come across this blog and think ooooh noes another Jesus freak, bible thumper, flake ... One comment - religion is NOT Jesus. So throw out all of that junk you might have experienced in your past ... the preconceptions of Christianity, the legalistic rules, laws, do this - do that to be saved/born again, the disgusting glances, rude comments because of the way you looked, acted, whatever in Church and just soak ... I mean soak it in ... God loves you ... He oooooh so loves you. He just wants you to let his forgiveness rain down on you like a most gentle rain, to ease your spirit, to heal your heart and have a relationship with you.

He's knocking ...

Jesus LOVES you!

Unutterable, Indescribable ... Nah not even

God is good, Jesus I love you ...

So ya the title of this post is everything that has been going on lately in my life, my wife and children. You want to know whats cool about a relationship with Jesus? Is at that point of thinking or saying to yourself "Ooooh how sweet is His love, I don't think I can stand another ounce" He pours it on and turns it up a notch, or two, or ten. When you think you come to an understanding of the precious and most awesome creator and you realize what you thought you knew or understood is like a grain of sand on the beach and then it hits you that to understand His endless, most pure, and inconceivable amount of love He has for each of us blows our minds.

So on to life's happenings ... were to start ... Eli ... ya lets start with that most awesome and precious dude. Its dinner time about a week ago and he asks to give thanks. So he starts digging in thanking Father for the day and things and then the Holy Spirit grabs him and he starts praying for President-elect Obama and all of those that voted for Obama to become Christians. Let me back up and give you some insight to the political discussions or lack there-of around our household the past couple of months. THERE WAS LITTLE TO NO talk about politics. Yes the kids asked if we were voting, but we never dug into the details of who, why, what, why-not, etc... And especially Manda nor myself have prayed for Mr Obama or his supporters in front of the kids. Oh and come on ... how many 5 yr olds out there that you know of pray for the leaders of our country? Makes you think about were your prayer-priorities are at. :)

Madeline ... sweet, tender, and beautiful mystery that is our daughter ... all I can say is ouch she knows how to stretch us. And for the boy that is out there that God has chosen for her ... whooooa man ... look out hehe ... your in for a treat hahaha. So we are sitting around the dinner table tonight and God bless her she asks why mom and dad are talking about Jesus, Church, and listening to various worship cd's, etc so much more now than ever before. Now some might hear that and say "OUCH!" that's a hit to the pride bucket ... but as I am writing this I can only think, say, and write Jesus I love you and Thank YOU! for making it evident that there is something going on in our lives.

And Manda ??!! she freaking rocks ... her beauty oooozes from the depths of her heart and beams out her smile ... shes sassy, beautiful, and makes me feel like a real man when she makes comments like she does in her blog. Just read it ... http://mandatee.blogspot.com/

Me ??? Jesus rocks my socks ... He's set me free with His unfailing love, grace, and mercy ... I cant help but love what is the most precious and awesome sacrifice man will ever know ...

... An Almighty, sovereign, irrefutable, creator of the universe that loves me and you and just wants us to plainly and simply let His forgiving atonement wash us, cleanse us, make us whole, and enter into a most loving and most satisfying relationship that you will EVER know.

God is more than good ... He's awesome! Grrrrrr