Cool Video - Reaching Out

Our church did several outreach projects this fall/winter.
Here is a cool video with some of the highlights and pics from the different events - the one that was the coolest to me was the soldier be baptized in Iraq at the end of the video - we adopted 160 soldiers through an Army Chaplain there and sent them stockings/boxes stuffed with everything imaginable - there is a short interview with the chaplains wife as well.

Enjoy!

1 John 3:18 (Amplified Bible)
Little children, let us not love [merely] in theory or in speech but in deed and in truth (in practice and in sincerity).

Name Game

For those that have not noticed I did make a name change to my blog.

Yes, I know this is really short - I am trying to pad my posting record...

Movie Review - Rocky

Well, as a devoted Rocky fan I couldn't NOT see this movie - yes I realize that Sly is now like 70 years old and I was only 5 when the 1st movie came out some 30 years ago now - but come on, its kind of like missing a Star Wars episode or something. Or maybe going back to see Cpt Kirk and Spock in a Star Trek reunion.

I realize that the idea of Rocky coming out of retirement (lets see this is like the 6th time now??) at fighting the current champ is a little overdone, but...

The computerized matchup on ESPN they showed is actually something that was really cool.

So to the actual review... the movie was somewhere around 2 hours and they could have done without about 1 1/2 hours and just cut to the actual training and the fight (thank goodness they didn't do like the 45 minute training scene from Rocky 4, that would have really made this a bear to watch, and I don't think Rocky would have lasted that long in training). The fight was pretty good, but the rest of the movie was typical - really bad acting. Of course there was the traditional run up the stairs scene right before the fight to get you all pumped up, but with no "YO, Adrienne!!!" this movie was not very good - although I think maybe still better than the last one (was that Rocky 5??) So, I would have to give this movie a thumbs down. Don't waste your money. The biggest disappointment is that now I have to go see a chick flick to make up for this loser.

Now, I do think that people might actually pay money to go see a re-make of Rocky 2 with Mr T as Clubber Lange, and Hulk Hogan as "Thunderlips" - Can you image those 3 60 year olds in a Rocky re-remake... possibly the male Gen-Xers dream movie... Ok, maybe not. Guess we'll have to hold out for the next episode of Star Wars. Or maybe Rambo 6 where they call him out of retirement to track down Osama BinLaden in Iraq - now there's a plot that would sell in Hollywood!

Noah's New Game - AKA Rock, Paper, Scissors update

Noah is very creative in making up his own rules to games we play - or even better just making up his own games. Some of you may recall my past posts on my triumphal Rock, Paper, Scissors matches with Noah (For more on the this epic battle, click here). He finally got tired of losing all the time so he came up with his own version -

Laser, Booger, Nail - here's the rules for those of you who want to play and teach your kids...
Basically the same as R,P,S except Laser (gun) kills Nail, Nail (that's fingernail by the way) beats (or insert "picks" for a better understanding of the rationale here) Booger, and Booger somehow beats Laser (the rationale is a little weak here, but apparently he thinks a Booger could cover up the end of the Laser gun and keep the laser from working).
So there you have it.

And by the way, someone needs to inform Blogger's spell check that Booger is an approved correct spelling.

In unrelated funny Noah stories, for those who haven't seen him lately he is now proficient in not only armpit farts but also in behind the knee farts and ear farts and I think he stays awake at night trying to perfect others. Oh, the joys and talents of a 1st grader!! Keep watching the Suns halftime show - we're hoping he may make it on right after one of the dancing dogs or something.

Sorry to any of you who may find this post crass in any way - guess you've never had a 7 year old boy. I'm sure my mom never had to deal with anything like this :)

Holiday???

Yesterday was a somewhat relaxing day with the fam, although very unproductive (as holidays should be).

Noah was very disappointed though - follow this train of thought...
Q: So do we get presents? A: No
Q: What about candy? A: No
Q: How about fireworks? A: No
Conclusion of a 7 year old: This holiday is no fun.

So we went on to explain the significance of the day and of Dr Martin Luther King Jr.'s impact on America and the world - It really made me angry as I thought of the way people were treated and nearly got choked up as I tried to explain this to a naive little boy - I just hope that he will grow up to understand fully and respect the high value of every human life as a person created in the image of God - no matter the color of their skin, the economic status or neighborhood/country they live in, their position or lack thereof, or any other discriminating factor, and that he will have the courage to stand up for and have compassion and kindness for all people.

Colossians 3:8-17 (NASB)
8But now you also, put them all aside: anger, wrath, malice, slander, and abusive speech from your mouth.

9Do not lie to one another, since you laid aside the old self with its evil practices,

10and have put on the new self who is being renewed to a true knowledge according to the image of the One who created him--

11a renewal in which there is no distinction between Greek and Jew, circumcised and uncircumcised, barbarian, Scythian, slave and freeman, but Christ is all, and in all.

12So, as those who have been chosen of God, holy and beloved, put on a heart of compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience;

13bearing with one another, and forgiving each other, whoever has a complaint against anyone; just as the Lord forgave you, so also should you.

14Beyond all these things put on love, which is the perfect bond of unity.

15Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, to which indeed you were called in one body; and be thankful.

16Let the word of Christ richly dwell within you, with all wisdom teaching and admonishing one another with psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with thankfulness in your hearts to God.

17Whatever you do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks through Him to God the Father.

Just in time

Yes I am still alive. I had to get this post in under the wire before someone(s) could accuse me of going a whole month without posting again.

Its been a whirlwind this past 30 days, but almost all good, just busy.

I will have to post some pics of our Christmas trip to Arkansas - we had a great time seeing family and the kids had a blast on the farm. They did surprising well on the road - don't know what parents did before the gamecube and portable dvd players. Guess just more yelling and pulling their hair out :)

I am looking forward to a great year and am excited to see what God brings our way. It continues to be fulfilling to meet the needs of hurting people on a daily basis, and I pray that I will be attentive to God as he brings these opportunities along.

On a somewhat funny note, I had a great time teaching Natalie how to blow her nose at bedtime the other night - she is a hoot! We both laughed uncontrollably.

A snip of something encouraging from my reading this morning:

Psalm 37 (Psalm Of David.)

1Do not fret because of evildoers,
Be not envious toward wrongdoers.
2For they will wither quickly like the grass
And fade like the green herb.
3Trust in the LORD and do good;
Dwell in the land and cultivate faithfulness.
4Delight yourself in the LORD;
And He will give you the desires of your heart.
5Commit your way to the LORD,
Trust also in Him, and He will do it.
6He will bring forth your righteousness as the light
And your judgment as the noonday.
7Rest in the LORD and wait patiently for Him;
Do not fret because of him who prospers in his way,
Because of the man who carries out wicked schemes.
8Cease from anger and forsake wrath;
Do not fret; it leads only to evildoing.