Gratitude

"The foundation of gratitude is the expectation of nothing."  The first time I heard this oft-quoted proverb was in Tennessee from a Major who works at the ANG Base I was temporarily serving at.  It really hit me like a ton of bricks, and daily it rings more and more true.  A very obvious example in my life stems from my guitar playing.  For the last year, I've been toting my acoustic guitar to choir practices and sunday morning services in the hopes that a few of the pieces would go well with a six-string.   Over the course of the last 12 months I was able to help out in this area while also honing my skills.  Considering I am still on the low end of a pretty steep learning curve, I think I won out more than the church in this arrangement, as several of the arrangements have really challenged me and forced me to improve.  Thankfully, though, they haven't kicked me out of the band or asked me to leave the guitar at home (yet).  Well, a week ago we presented our Christmas concert as a choir and I was blessed to play guitar as well on just 1 of many great pieces.  I truly expected absolutely nothing out of this service other than the joy of praising the Lord and a little satisfaction in (hopefully) a job well done.  The choir however, saw things differently.  Unbeknownst to me (and I think all the other musicians) the entire choir had pooled together some money to buy each and every one of us a gift certificate for a local restaurant.  It was a surprise, it was humbling, and it was a blessing. 

I've received a bunch of accolades in my life - most of them were hard-fought and specifically sought, usually for the purpose of retaining a position or gaining a higher one.  This sign of appreciation/gift however, will stand out for a long time to me.  I think I can say, honestly, that it was the first time that I truly, truly, truly expected nothing at all, and was blessed with an expression of gratitude.  It really meant a lot to me and I learned a valuable lesson from the event.  With Christmas 2007 almost completely in my "rear-view mirror" (we'll have had "Christmas" three times by the time it's all said and done), I look back at the gifts that have meant the most to me - all of them, without a doubt are the ones I didn't expect at all.  They were the ones I was most thankful for, the ones that showed the most graciousness from the giver.

 I agree with that Major.  The foundation of gratitude is the expectation of nothing.  Another way of looking at it is to say that we should give for the sake of giving, not for the anticipation of the reward; that comes from faith.  God bless you all in this season of giving.  In the end, I pray that you receive the perfect gift, Jesus Christ, who was sent to reunite us with our creator.  His birth, death, burial, and resurrection fulfilled the law that had enslaved us for millenia.  Do you want to be free?  He holds the key.  Merry Christmas!

The Family Christmas Plan

So, today I received an e-mail from my mom explaining the plan for when all 20 members of my family get together in a few days.  Overall, she did what she does best: direct and control (and of course, love).  Not only did she effectively divvy out their 7200 s.f. to the proper sub-families, but she also established standards (e.g. all toys, clothes, etc must stay in the appropriate room, kids room should be returned to its current status prior to departure, etc).  Additionally, there is no question as to what meals are covered, which are "potluck" and which ones are on our own.  I'm a guy that needs black and white - clear boundaries of operation and specific objecives.  I can operate with this e-mail in hand, without a doubt.  I give the directions two thumbs up!

Merry Christmas!

Finally!  A tree has been assembled and placed in our family room.  The nativity scenes are set and sweets are beginning to fill our deep-freeze as Rachel prepares for our Christmas Day drop-in.  Still, we've only gotten 1 gift and somehow we are going to get the rest tomorrow for our huge extended families in 6 short hours.  That should be interesting!

Praise the Lord our life has slowed down a bit at work and in school; now it's about to get spun up again with a busy travel and Christmas season.  I'm anxiously awaiting my final grades for this semester's schoolwork as well as my Christmas gift: my first laptop!  It's only taken me 10 years of owning a computer to get to this point - and it is definitely good timing!  I'm about to spend 5 weeks somewhat away from the family for a class and it will be good to have my own portable PC to video chat with the family and keep up with the blog.  Anyway, I hope everyone is having a really blessed holiday season.  May God grant you peace this December and New Year!

Shrek the Third

Shrek the Third, 2007 - PG

Mike Myers and his crew are settling in to what may prove to be a "Land Before Time-esque" franchise.  It has proven to be a successful formula to date, that is big fat ogres belching, farting, screaming, laughing, being sarcastic and in the end, learning something about themselves while building someone else up.  Same story - just more characters this time.  John Cleese somehow was able to get his Monty Python buddy, Eric Idle, into the picture as Merlin, the outcast magic professor, and Justin Timberlake even made an entrance as a High School loser.  I'm not sure what I thought completely yet, but I did enjoy it - of course.  The long dream sequence with Shrek was a bit overdone and almost scary, and some of the jokes have become a little tired by this third installment, but overall it accomplished its mission of making me laugh and occassionally feel a little gushy inside.  Especially after the last semester I had, the AF classes I took, classes I taught, music I've learned, business trip I had and lack of sleep, this movie was a great way to give my mind a rest!  My favorite line came at the end when a character was trying to make everyone feel good about themselves and then said, "And the only thing standing in the way of becoming that creature . . . .is . . . .you" This character then pointed to some random dude and everyone just about ganged up on him as though that were the guy standing in the way of their success.  OK, you had to be there.  I'm still laughing though.  My recommendation: wait until it's in the "2 for 11" bin at Wal-Mart to pick up a copy.  I know we'll have to if I plan on buying it on our budget!

So much to say, so little attention

I know that most folks don't have enough time to read full blog entries, so I'll try to provide the BLUF (bottom line up front - a phrase I recently learned from a fighter pilot friend)

So, here's the BLUF:

1. #3 is less than a month away!  We are excited with every kick and shove that protrudes from Rachel's belly, and the kids are just as excited as us!

2. Tomorrow I graduate my fourth class of students this year!  They are definitely a class act!

3. Still no Christmas tree up - that's how busy it's been

4. Christmas concert this sunday will finish off a very busy guitar-playing and choral season.

5. Paul Johnson was named GT's head coach - we'll see how it turns out; he comes with good credentials, though so did Chan Gailey.

6. Finished grad work for this semester, now I just wait for my grades (please pray)

7. A recent AJC opinion article stated that "abstinence only campaigns can't be trusted" - what in the world are we coming to?

Oh well.  That's it for now - not a typical blog entry, but I thought it was fair to bring you up to date.  Soon I'll be setting up a page to track my monthly utility expenses in my search for the lowest bill during a time of too much consumption!  God bless.

Third Day / Jars of Clay / Rome, GA

We had the privilege of going to the first show for the Christmas Offerings tour with Third Day and Jars of Clay last night in Rome, GA.  It was a blast (of course) and we met up some friends from TN to make it even more fun!  6th row on stage left was perfect - Rachel had the aisle in case she started going into contractions; thankfully that didn't happen and we got to see the whole show.  The baby did get pretty excited, especially with the bass drum the JoC lead singer bangs like its nobody's business! 

OK, it seems important to provide a more critical review than just "It rocked!", especially considering this was our fifth full-fledged Third Day concert.  So here it is:  All in all, the audience was deeply ministered to - as is the case at every Third Day event.  It is impossible to walk away from these guys, whether they are singing or playing or just chilling by the pool and not be ministered to.  I've had more time with them than most fans (in and out of the concert hall) and I can speak of this as fact.  The concert on Thursday night, though had some glitches.  I believe that they were almost completely due to two factors: 1. it was the first night of the show 2. the Forum in Rome, GA looks older than me.  Number 1 seemed to be the apparent reason for most of the problems.  For instance, the words during one of the songs were completely out of synch after the first couple verses.  The soundguy, to his credit, worked feverishly to get the right words up on the screen, however it was at times a little distracting.  Additionally, Brad Avery's awesome story about the adoption of their fourth daughter was followed by a complete darkout that seemed to contribute to an out-of-synch intro between him and the keyboardist.  During Little Drummer Boy, by Jars of Clay (and this may be my own audible deficiency), the lead singer took to the xylaphone like it was nobody's business, yet for some reason, I couldn't hear it save my life!  Nonetheless, the crowd loved the song and got to its feet by the end.  I think the oddest flub of the evening was when Mac tried to direct the follow spot over to Mark Lee so that he could be introduced.  Instead of following the lead's directions, the spot stayed focused (I think on Brad) and just sat there.  Mac had to tell the dude about four times before he started pointing to the operator and waving the light over to Mark.  It definitely disrupted a bit of the concert flow. 

 You know what, though, most of these issues really pointed to one thing: This was a live show!  It was not Milli Vanilli and things happen when musicians actually peform rather than pretend.  I hope that noone gets too offended by this post, as it is written, "As iron sharpens iron, so one man sharpens another" (Prov. 27:17).  The concert definitely rocked, regardless, and I'm anxiously awaiting the Spring tour dates so I can scoop up some tix for a few close by shows.  God Bless!

We are all over the place!

Rachel's in Missouri, the kids are in Georgia and I'm in Alabama - at home.  I got back this morning after the awesome Third Day/Jars of Clay concert we went to last night (check out my "Reviews" page for more info).  I finished a correspondence class today after taking the fifth and final test - PTL!  I turned in a term paper and book review for one of my grad courses.  Now I just have three exams and one more term paper to finish the semester.  It wouldn't be too bad except that I'll be working 12-hour days for the next two weeks straight.  Hmm.  I guess that's life, just like the tides, ebbing and flowing, over and over again.  We have a lot of exciting events coming up including the birth of our third child, the Christmas holidays (and substantial mental, physical and emotional break that will come with it for me) and a five week class that I was selected for that will hopefully make me a better officer.  I'll let you know how that works out.  Please pray for us as we continue to tackle life at breakneck pace!  Peace!

Speaking of Mediocrity

Georgia Tech met UGA today at Bobby Dodd Stadium, only to be outdone, for the seventh year in a row.  Thus, another mediocre Tech season ends.  No BCS bowl.  No championship ring.  No screaming throngs at the corner of Bobby Dodd and Cherry St.  Yet, they are going to a bowl (though there are almost enough bowls at this point for every Div. 1-A team to make it) and there may be some on staff who still have their ACC championship ring, when we shared it with the only in-conference loss to FSU (1998).  This match has become so mediocre as far as football games go, the UGA-Florida rivalry is easily considered stronger and more pumped up.  I don't know what should happen to Chan.  Everyone knows that all Tech fans really want (besides a share of some championship or a BCS bowl) is a "W" against the Bulldogs.  His contract isn't expired yet, though it may be worth the buyout to get some fresh blood in there.  We don't lack talent.  We don't lack a playbook (though I'd like to see the option come back in full force).  We don't lack the facilities.  We don't lack the fans.  We lack the "W's" and that almost always comes down to a lack in leadership.  Whether it is in the special teams coach, the quarterback or the manager,  the Head Coach sets the tone for the team through their leadership.  The most successful franchises in NCAA history are not marked by their star performers, but by their head coaches.  Hopefully Tech will find either the right man for the job, or the motivation Chan needs to step it up.  May God bless Chan Gailey and the Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets!

Graduation Day

Today I had the honor of graduating 10 more students and hopefully launching them into successful careers.  I'll need to write more later, as our dinner guests have arrived.  Just know that I'm very proud!

Guitar Hero

Just like the real thing - only completely different!  On my business trip to TN, I became wonderfully familiar with Guitar Hero, for Playstation.  In short, It ROCKED!!  I've got to say though, the "expert" level is totally beyond me!  We unlocked all of the 40 songs in Guitar Hero - 2 (I think) on the "medium" level and that was still pretty difficult.  Anyway, it can be quite a workout, though not as much as the Nintendo WII seems to be.  It's really more of a workout for the fingers on the frets - those buttons can build up some serious callouses.   Anyway, I would not recommend buying a PS-2 just to get this game, but I'd definitely recommend hanging out with friends who've already got it!

Home, At Last!

Well, another 5-hour drive and I'm back at the comfort of my own keyboard again.  What a wonderful thing it was to see my family after dropping off the rental!  Andrew and Elizabeth have started learning the words to Rich Mullins' "Screen Door" song and Rachel is glowing with the anticipation of Number 3.  God is good, all the time!  And all the time, God is good!

Once I get a little more settled, I'll post some pictures.  Overall, the trip was great.  The staff I worked with in Knoxville was very helpful and I learned a ton!  Hopefully some of them read this some time and accept a heartfelt "Thank you" for putting up with me and showing me the ropes!

 Ya'll have a great weekend!

“House”-pitality

What a blessing a concert can be - above and beyond its outward purpose!  So, you may remember that I met some folks at the Jeremy Camp concert a few weeks ago.  Well, today I joined them at their church again and afterwards they invited me to lunch.  I figured it would be nice to spend some more time with them and I had to eat, so the two seemed to go well together.  Anyway, I expected to visit a local eatery or attend a pot-luck or something, but God had something even better in store for me.  Instead of stopping at McD's, I followed them - all the way to their home!  What a nice surprise to be invited into their home after having seen them only a few times.  They had a terrific spread and everyone was well fed.  We got to sharing and the next thing I knew, it was three hours later!  I'm so thankful that the Lord has provided these new friends and I hope that we get to share more of our lives as we all continue to grow in His purpose for us.  I pray that you meet someone knew this week or maybe just get re-acquainted with an old friend.  You never know what is in store!  God bless!

Instruments in worship or not?

I wandered on to an interesting post tonight after watching a dismal performance by Auburn in Athens as they got trounced by UGA.  The article is here, and it speaks of the unscriptural act of using instruments in worship - likening those who do, to the Pharisees.  So, I checked out another site to see the opposing argument and found this article supporting the act.  I've already forwarded my opinions and scriptural discoveries to the author(s) of the first article mentioned, but I am more interested in what you think.  Is instrumental worship a help or hindrance?  Is it a blessing or blasphemy?  Why?  If you are willing, put your hermeneutical skills to the test and let us know what you believe!   God Bless!

Bee Movie

Bee Movie, 2007 - PG 

Hmm.  On a whim, I went by myself to the local cineplex for an offering of dynamic digital artwork.  I remember when the first previews came out for this movie, with Jerry Seinfeld dressed up in a massive bee costume, being flung around a soundstage with gigantic flowers and a massive mock window.  I remember thinking, the same thing: hmm. 

In short, I give it a 4.  It really wasn't funny enough to be enjoyed by adults and yet the plot seemed a little too complex for younger children to "get".  The graphics was terrific (of course) and the soundtrack was pretty good and the theme was a fairly new concept, it just lacked spunk!  There were very few folks in the theater with me and I think that three folks walked out about after the first 20 minutes (presumably to see a different movie).  I sat through, though, and it did get a little better.  Have you seen it?  What do you think?  If you haven't seen it - wait for it to come out as a rental.  $8.25 was too much!

Best character: Mooseblood, played by Chris Rock

The Holy Bible: New International Version

The Holy Bible: New International Version, GodFirst, the confession - I haven't read it, cover to cover.  I'm closer now than I ever have been, though.  I started about two years ago reading all the way through the New Testament, for a lot of reasons.  I'm sure I've read everything in there at least once, just never in order.  So, that took a while - too long, honestly, and when I got to the last word of Revelation ("Amen"), I thought, "hm, maybe I should just try to finish this whole thing out."  So, I turned to Genesis 1:1, the beginning of a book I've read many many times and started reading it, once again.  This time, however I was intent on finishing.  For whatever selfish reasons, I got all the way to 1 Chronicles and hit a brick wall.  (This was probably six months ago)  Last night,God gave me the strenth to climb the wall and now He's pacing me through all these really weird names.

God loves us, a whole lot.  I know it's easy not to see that, what with all the war that the Bible mentions and the plagues and the anihilation of those who turned from Him.  But, at the end - He did everything because we are his most prized creation.  We are the only thing on this earth that received his spirit to wake up.  Whether we acknowledge it or not - He is in all of us.  The Bible is not full of heroes or saints, as some may believe.  Rather, it is overflowing with common folk, like ourselves, who only see face value.  Person after person, people group after people group, the Bible shows that a moment of humility and an ounce of faith in His plan, rather than our own flimsy ambitions, equate to mountains of blessings that are heaped upon us like burning coals!

That's what I've gotten out of the Bible so far.  Maybe it will change.  If so, I'll keep you posted.

University of Tennessee Hodges Library

University of Tennessee Hodges Library

Praise the Lord for free public internet access at the UT Hodges Library!  The hardest part of the visit is finding parking, and that too has proven to be fairly easy.  Basically, if you get there after 5:00 PM on a weekday (except Fridays before Saturday football games) you can park in the lot right across the street from the massive 6-story library filled with computers, books (hello), a Starbucks and students.  Students EVERYWHERE!  I don't think I ever saw this many students at a Georgia Tech Homecoming Parade, much less the Tech library!  The library has a plethora of quiet reading and group study rooms and has a pretty liberal food/drink policy that is pretty clearly posted.

Next time you are in Knoxville, and you are in the need of two hours of internet access a day, you can find it here - and a latte' to boot!

The Genesis Question

The Genesis Question, Hugh Ross, PhD

Very interesting.  I find it very sad that there is almost a bigger debate going on between Christians who believe in a really old earth and Christians who believe in a really young earth than there is between those who believe in some intelligent design model and those who think it was all odds.

Well, this work focuses on the theories posed by Dr. Hugh Ross, founder of Reasons to Believe, an organization that focuses attention on capturing scientific data that support the Bible, and specifically, the first 11 chapters of Genesis.  For example, the Hebrew word for day, "yom", can actually mean many different things.  Dr. Ross asserts that it's use in the first chapter of Genesis is in reference to "a very long period of time" versus a 24-hour period.  By making this hypotheses, he claims to support everything written from the Bible using a scientific and historical critical approach.

I think that his work lacked some substance.  It seemed like a plausible hypotheses, however there wasn't enough meat to support his skeleton of a theory.  I wrote a critical book review that was not graded very high, but you are welcome to peruse, if it piques your interest.

Regardless, if creation science is your "bag", this book needs to be on your list, as his hypotheses will undoubtedly come up in conversation at some point

Chronology: Volume One

Chronology: Volume One, Third Day

If you have never listened to Third Day before, this is a great starter disc - especially, if you don't care about buying out their entire collection.  Some of it is terrific!  The best aspect, hands down, is the fact that both Volume One and Volume Two come with a DVD of early performances and shows when they were just out of high school!  It's pretty crazy to see how they've changed!  It's also amazing to see that God never has changed - the music they made then was incredible!  Sure, they've gotten better as artists, but the painting hasn't changed much.  This is a great thing, as a lot of artists try to "paint" different images in the hopes of reaching a different crowd (or a different wallet).  Third Day has never seemed to do this.  God is using them in some mighty ways and I look forward to Chronology Volume Three to come out in another ten years!  Thanks, Brad, David, Mac, Mark, Tai, and everyone else who makes their ministry possible!

Cornbread Muffins and Buttermilk

Cornbread Muffins and Buttermilk

Now, I have finally experienced true Southern Livin'.  Only exception would be that these muffins were made from "Jiffy" and not a secret family recipe.  The muffins were just sweet enough to help me choke it all down - buttermilk et al.  You should try it sometime!

The Apprentice

The Apprentice 

Two weeks ago may have been the best episode ever.  The task was unique and it was graded by the Donald, to boot - something that never happens until the final episode in any other given season!  Last week was fun, because it was the final four, and the Donald told them that he would choose his Apprentice before a live audience the next week! - This Sunday!  So, we are excited, to say the least!  I'll let you know how we enjoyed the whole season after next week's show.

4.26.07 I'm a little disappointed James didn't get picked, but I understand the Donald's reasoning.  He was going to take the Atlanta job, too.  Oh, well, there's always next season.

9.10.07 Hmph.  That's what happens anytime I get interested in a T.V. show.  It gets cancelled.

Lone Survivor

Lone Survivor, Marcus Luttrell

Of course, if you've read any of my blog of late, you will know that I think very highly of this book, its author and the Navy SEALs in general.  The language is a little violent for sensitive eyes and minds, however the author knows where his faith lies and he doesn't mince words about it!  I recommend this book to anyone who is interested in learning about the stories of heroism that are all throughout the Global War on Terror.  This is one amazing story and you will be moved by the time you read the prologue.  Pay full price, enjoy and let me know what you think!

Stranger Than Fiction

Stranger Than Fiction, 2006 - PG-13

Will Ferrell is joined by a very strong cast in this very well-thought film about a guy who realizes that he is a character in a work of fiction once he starts hearing the voice of the author iterate his every move.  It's a fascinating love story as well and definitely deserves a viewing.  Ferrell is not in the typical type-casting we are used to and he pulls it off well.  I may even buy this one for the collection.  Some of my favorite aspects would be the overlaid graphics flawlessly incorporated, esp. in the first twenty minutes as well as the role played by Emma Thompson.  She is a marvelous actress and really does well as a chain-smoking recluse with writer's block.

The rating is appropriate - definitely some content that is not really appropriate for younger children.  But, I would say that anyone over 14 could see it - though they may not really "get it".  18 is a good age to view and understand.

Happy Feet

Happy Feet, 2006 - PG

Great animation; cute penguins.  I have to say the coolest part (and saddest) is the voiceover provided by the late, great Steve Irwin.  He performed the voice for an elephant seal and the DVD gives you a look at a clip that was originally excluded from the film with his voice talents again.  I really liked the storyline, although a little slow at first, it picked up quickly and drew me into the lives of these furry flightless birds.  I don't want to give any of the plot away as I believe this is a good viewing for just about anybody over the age of 12.  I think that some of the activity by the animated characters is actually a bit too "suggestive" to expose a younger crowd to, only to emulate on the playground.  I will not let my kids watch this anytime soon as they are both a little young to understand the theme and may actually lose some interest during the longer sequences.

The cinematography and animation were unbelievable and definitely made me want to visit Antarctica some day.  Enjoy!

The Total Money Makeover

Total Money Makeover, Dave Ramsey

I have one debt left in this world (other than my mortgage), and it is to my next oldest brother and best man.  He sent me this book in the summer of 2005 and from page 1, my financial life was turned upside down and brought onto a straight and narrow path of success.  Rachel got on board with me and together we got on board with Dave's plan for financial peace, and our family has been changed, forever.  You could consider it an experience akin to being "born again" financially, because that's exactly what's happened since.

God sent more counselors our way; my boss at my previous assignment, a free "Financial Peace" class held by the base chapel, friends who shared our struggles and shared the job of holding eachother accountable, and most importantly - people who are worth giving to, especially when they need it most.  That doesn't make sense?  How could someone who receives your money be a financial counselor?  My answer is simple - they are why I want to be a serious prodigious accumulator of wealth (PAW).  To give, is to receive!  Try it and you will see what I mean!

Dave's personal success story is certainly a good one, but the better stories come, honestly and humbly, from average folks like me.  We read his book, together, following "Baby Steps" and prayed a lot.  14 months later, we paid off over $17,000 in debt, eliminating all debt in our life, and started our financial lives over.  More importantly, we were finally in control of our money!  Ask yourself, "Am I determining where every dollar goes, or am I letting the daily grind decide for me?"  If you answered "yes" to the latter, you need to e-mail me.  I will send you a free hardback copy of this book (as long as you promise to read it) while supplies last!

The Millionaire Next Door

The Millionaire Next Door, Thomas J. Stanley and William D. Danko

This is a must read for ANYONE who wants to become wealthy.  It has been revised many times and I recommend you buy the most current revision, with the most current stats.

Dr. Stanley presents an amazing image of today's American millionaire - usually a self-made businessperson wearing target polos and levis, driving a F-150 with a car seat in the back, living in a decent 10-15 year old home, with loads of cash in a well-diversified portfolio.  In short, you wouldn't recognize the millionaire if you saw them! 

He explains extremely critical terms such as "Prodigious Accumulator of Wealth", "Under-Accumulator of Wealth", and "Economic Outpatient Care".  He sets the boundaries of what it takes to be truly wealthy and challenges the readers to become wealthy as well.

This is an excellent, easy read that will keep you up at nights afterwards worrying about all of your friends who "look" like millionaires and how you can help them wake up out of their coma!

Start Late, Finish Rich

Start Late, Finish Rich, David Bach

I'm working on it.  So far I've got a few questions about some of the stuff he says - doesn't seem to match up with what I've clinged to, so I'm trying to withhold judgment until I finish it.  I'll keep you posted.

Atlantis

Atlantis, David Gibbons

Just a fun novel about the greatest deep-sea diver in the world with millions of dollars of non-profit save the seas/save the world type assets who gets intertwined into an evil empire run by the father of this cute archeologist he hooks up with. . . .anyway, he flies all these jets, the good guys win and discover a whole new civilization while he and the chick hook up.  Same old same old, but fun nonetheless!

(Kind of like "Top Gun" for the sea)

A Banner Week!

I didn't really mention it at the right time, but it should be noted that last week was a big one for Mediocre, Alaska.  We broke records for single day and single week visitors - outstanding!  I'm sure it is due more to a few e-mails and board posting I sent rather than a plug on some daytime talk show, but I'll take the numbers regardless.

I guess some of you may be wondering what this website is all about - especially first time visitors.  First, I encourage you to take a look at the "About Us" page.  It gives a somewhat outdated synopsis of what Mediocre, Alaska is about.  In a nutshell, though, it's really just a bunch of seemingly random thoughts recorded for the purpose of keeping my family and friends informed as to our happenings as well as entertaining any visitors that may accidentally stop by after some weird "google" search.  Regardless, I hope you enjoy the stay. 

If you have any content comments or suggestions for areas of study, please feel free to pass a comment through any of the posts.  You can also send stuff to us anonymously by using the "Contact Us" link.  Have a great day/evening/morning and God bless!

Problems with Autumn

These are just a few of the problems with Autumn for me:

1. I'm still colorblind and the changing of the trees that should resemble fireworks looks more like a bunch of trees dying.

2. Georgia Tech is still not a BCS-worthy team.

3. In Alaska, it's 20-below.

4. In Alabama, it's still 80.

5. Halloween.

6. Planning the logistical gymnastics to share all of the upcoming holidays with friends and family while still trying to maintain our own identity.

7. I should have saved monthly for Christmas yet it's now November, and we haven't saved a dime!

8. All the months end in "-er".

9. We lose 7-8 minutes of sunlight a day during the fall in Alaska!

10. To stay comfortable: Twelve layers worn to breakfast, two layers to lunch and 10 layers to dinner.

Other than that, fall rocks my world!  God Bless.

Rachel

"So, how about telling the world how Rachel is doing these days?"  inquired an anonymous reader.  That's really a great question!  So, I've come up with some questions to ask the most amazing wife in the world and here are her answers:

1. How are you doing? I am tired, but I am doing great.  I am measuring 30 cm (bottom of uterus to the top) which is exactly where I should be at 30 weeks.

2. Are you going to get a job? No, I don't plan on getting a job.

3. What are your thoughts on this year's World Series? I think it is great that the Sox won it in four nights so that noone had to waste any more time watching.

4. Should Georgia Tech fire Chan Gailey? No, not yet.  Let him finish out his contract.

5. What is your favorite bread recipe? My favorite bread recipe is my whole wheat bread recipe from Eva, that I need to make today.

6. Are you hoping for a boy or a girl? I think the baby is a boy.  I will not say what I am hoping for.

7. Isn't David the most dreamy and amazing husband in the world? Absolutely!

 So, there you go anonymous reader, Rachel, in her own words.  My ultimate plan for the blog is to have a "His" side and a "Hers" side.  That won't happen until late november/december, so stay tuned!

Advertisements . . . geesh.

So, I guess you will have to suffer with those annoying little windows that appear occasionally by moving your mouse over certain words.  Just so you know - those are the words with two lines underneath.  The ones with only one line underneath are my links.  Sorry for any inconvenience, but I guess that's the price to pay for a free web-blog service.

Concert Friends

It's really cool when you go to a concert and end up meeting new friends!  I remember my second Third Day show ever, at Hills Alive in South Dakota.  That was over six years ago and our family is still in touch with the folks we met and spent most of our time with at that concert!  In fact, we're going to share Thanksgiving dinner with them this year.  God is so awesome!  Today, I'm going to visit a church in Knoxville after having met some really nice folks at the Jeremy Camp concert.  They invited me and of course, I wasn't doing anything else, so I'm off to visit them at their church this morning.   One friend I had met at the Third Day concert in Alaska was particularly excited to be there - she had flown all the way from Germany for a company trip and now she was standing next to me and my wife on the front row.  She tried all night long to catch one of the many picks that Mac, Brad, Tai and Mark throw out at the crowd, to no avail.  Well, I caught one (or picked it up, or something) and gave it to her.  Voila - friend!  It's that easy, folks.  God Bless!

Finally, a real blog!

Yes, I have finally figured out how to turn this mediocre web blog into a better than mediocre blog.  Thanks to blogsavy.com for providing the service that makes it happen!  Now I just need to fix the rest of my site. . .  Go ahead and try to send a comment and I'll see if I can figure this puppy out.  God Bless!

Welcome India!

That now makes visitors from two new countries in a week!  I'm happy to see that the world is starting to notice our happy little community.  

On Friday, after work, I went to the club with some co-workers up here and watched the first half of "Transformers" - GO AIR FORCE!  Then I chilled at a co-worker's home with another friend (all of our wives were out of town) and we had an acoustic jam session.  It was groovy. . . One of the dudes left and I was introduced to Guitar Hero: 80's for PlayStation.  I have to admit, I've never been a big fan of video games.  This game, however, ROCKED!  I had a blast - even though real skills at the guitar are next to useless to do well in this game.  Good rythem helps, as does hand - eye coordination, like any video game.

Today I vegged out in the rental car - a totally sweet blue PT Cruiser.  Yes, I vegged out in the rental for over 7 hours!  I explored all over the Smokies and hit Cades Cove and Clingman's Dome.  There was a brief intermission at a classy little dive - Mel's Diner - but most of the day was spent listening to Channel 66 on satellite radio (Spirit) and enjoying the essence of fall in Tennessee.  You might say, "But Dave, Tennessee's not really Alaska, is it?", as if to say it's not pretty enough.  Yes, you are right - Tennessee is not Alaska, thankfully.  I'm not sure I would have enjoyed my drive nearly as much at 30-below today.  I certainly wouldn't have made the mile hike up and back at Clingman's Dome to the observation tower.  Anyway, you naysayers can sit back and pretend your day spent watching college football was more rewarding than the half tank I spent cruising the Appalachians in fall.  You just do that. . .

Anyway, this blog entry is getting too long, so I'm going to cut it short.  Besides, my clam chowder is getting cold, the french bread is getting stale and Panera closes in 50 minutes.  God bless!

Jeremy Camp, Knoxville, TN

Last night I went to see Jeremy Camp in concert, with opening act: Mainstay. Both were awesome! I got in line at the ticket office (tix were on will call) about 15 minutes before they opened. By the time I got my tickets, I was pretty far back in line - stretching out in to the parking lot. It was pretty windy also and the line grew very long as the doors opened twenty minutes late! Anyway, being alone makes it easy to squeeze in with a group at a general admission concert and that's exactly what happened! So, I sat just left of center, in the third row! It was sweet! I think the best part was the second set, when Jeremy sang with his wife, who is also coming out with an album. Overall, it was an awesome experience. I've got a few more concerts coming up and I'll be sure to post on those as well. Additionally, I've decided that it's probably time I start a page dedicated to my favorite band: Third Day. I've got a bunch of great stories from the last ten years about this band and I can't wait to share some of them with you.

The "Columbus" method

The "Columbus" method according to my prof: "He didn't know where he was going when he started; didn't know where he was when he got there; and he didn't know where he'd been when he got back." That's how he described a friend's preaching. Nice.

Hey, thanks for visiting, folks! I'd love for you to drop me a line - just remember that my web form doesn't collect your e-mail, so please include your name in the message block so I know who's writing!

God Bless!

Instruments in Worship

"Am I dealing with human traditions, or am I dealing with divine traditions?" The use of mechanical instruments in worship is supposedly a human tradition and not a divine tradition according to my professor. I'm not sure what I think about the logic, as it leads me to think that this conclusion can only lead to a negative practice in my professor's mind. Now, some churches do not use musical instruments for reasons I don't plan on going into, but I'm used to it. It's how I grew up and I can't imagine a service without it. I also think that we would be hard pressed to see the lives turned around and the hearts changed that we have seen, if Christians far and wide had never picked up a guitar, learned to play "It is well with my soul" on the piano or led the beat on a bass drum. Things that make me go hmm.

"Liberty Enlightening the World" is 121 years old

After 121 years of exposure to wind, rain, snow, heat, terrorist attacks, public scrutiny, widespread praise, tears and just about everything else - Liberty Enlightening the World is still standing tall on Liberty Island (formerly Bedloe's Island). Known to most as the Statue of Liberty, this statue was unveiled in it's finished granduer on this day in 1886, a rainy day that didn't seem to go as planned. It didn't matter, though, and over a century later, the stories of the impression she has left on the hearts and minds of countless Americans, immigrants and foreigners are too numerous to even start chronicling. Next time you are around the copper gentle giant in New York Harbor, take a moment to smile at her and thank her for continuing to stand for all the great things she represents. God bless America!

Volunteers and Lectures

10.25.07 I am debating over whether or not to buy tickets to a Vols football game. It seems $40 is worth being in Neyland Stadium, surrounded by 107,000 orange and white fans screaming at the top of their lungs as UT takes out some football team. I think it would be a good investment, of course I could also save the money and give it to Rachel when I get home. Hmmmm. This is a tough choice.


Now I'm listening to my homiletics prof talk about Post-Modernism and the advent of relativism - a totally disasterous movement that is a result of scholarly thought from the 20th century. It makes teaching the Word of God next to impossible when speaking to relativists. At the end of the day, it takes a "Damascus-road experience" for these people to turn to the Lord.

We could use some more experiences like that around this country.

University of Tennessee Fun

Praise the Lord for public internet access at the UT Hodges Library! I'm way behind in my grad work and none of the company computers have Real Player installed - a program I have to have to watch my lectures online. Anyway, now I'm currently listening to my lecture while sitting at a computer at the University of Tennessee. I'm allowed 2 hours a night and that may be just enough to get what I need from the online lectures.


Work is good and I'm having fun on this business trip, but most importantly, I am finally in a position to focus on my studies. When I'm at home, I tend to spend time with my kids or Rachel rather than hit the books. I guess that's a good thing.

UT is a pretty neat campus - it really takes me back to my Georgia Tech days. The old dorms and clogged streets make me feel like a freshman again, surrounded by the sights and sounds of students trying desperately to hold on to their individualism while tragically giving up the same to become accepted. Shakespeare obviously did not understand the college spirit when he penned, "To thine own self be true."

Go Vols! God bless.

Panera Bread Co. - my beacon of hope!

10.22.07 "Free WiFi" signs remind me of when you used to see "Diner's Club" signs in the windows of business willing to feed to growing dependency on the Credit Card. Our nature of dependency hasn't really changed much, but the terms have. Tonight I spent at least 45 minutes driving around the outskirts of Knoxville, TN looking for free WiFi, as though it would be just plain wrong to support an establishment that didn't offer this service. Starbucks gave me a grande Hot Cocoa, but T-Mobile wanted my Credit Card info for the WiFi, so I pulled stakes and moved out. I got lost a couple times, but eventually (and with some aid) happened upon the coveted Panera Bread Co. My WiFi savior was waiting for me - with a "Pick Two" deal to support my more animal instinct to eat. Now, here I sit, listening to jazz and experiencing the peace of mind that was lacking up until my two e-mail accounts had finally been checked for important correspondence. My heart rate slows down and the nice hourly-wage employee with the apron takes away the remnants of my dinner snack. All is well that ends well, and this day has definitely ended well.
In other news, I am (obviously) away from home, on a business trip to Knoxville, TN. I'm hoping to catch a Vols game while I'm up here - mostly because the LSU - Auburn game last weekend proved to me that the most exciting conference is the SEC, no doubt, and the stadium at UT is only about 2 x the size of GT's homefield. I could use some good clean, college football fun one of these weekends. Wish me luck as I search for some good seats. God Bless!

WDW Pre-Cursor

You know what - I never talked about Disney World and the whirlwind tour my son and I took of the WDW Resort over Labor Day weekend. Remind me sometime to re-attack that story. . . .

Underdogs rule

WAR EAGLE! GO YELLOW JACKETS! I love watching an underdog win a big game. It just makes everything else go away for a little bit. Like the 320k+ mile Jeep I own that is now in the shop or the crabgrass that is still lingering in my lawn. Most important, and this is true in football as it is in just about everything else, the story of a successful underdog is a continual reminder that all things can be made possible through Christ. I have realized that I am an underdog. Satan is up, 453-2 (I picked up a safety back in Elementary School), yet I am assured a victory if I continue to press on toward the goal. The points don't matter and the time left is unknown (kind of like soccer). All that counts is the scoreboard in the end, and just like the sign that loomed over the hedges in Athens, GA following the GA Tech victory in 1998 (21-19), the scoreboard of life will also be in my favor. If you want to know more about this, please contact me. God Bless!

Lone Survivor, Marcus Luttrell

This is a good day, just like all days. It really comes down more to what we make of the days than what we think of the days. I'm reading a terrific book, Lone Survivor, by Marcus Luttrell, a Navy SEAL. It's pretty remarkable what these guys go through to be SEALs - definitely not a walk in the park. I can say assuredly that it is well more intense than anything I've done or probably ever will do and I'm not really sure if that comforts me or makes me feel worthless. Regardless, you should decide for yourself and check the book out. Like an impatient ninny, I bought the book in hardback, brand new, with 10% sales tax yet I am very pleased with the investment so far.


On a side note, I think the site needs a redesign. The pictures aren't very well organized and the overall appearance is somewhat archaic. Please feel free to contact me if you have any suggestions.

GA Tech vs. UVA - a sad tale

I'm totally depressed that my Yellow Jackets couldn't pull out a win this week. They lost to the Virginia Cavaliers, 28-23, after a fatal fumble during a punt - of all things. Ironically, there are few things that have been truly consistent about Ga Tech's football over the last ten years (the last season they accomplished anything truly significant), yet their special teams has always seemed to stay the course. Even today their place kicker hit a 51-yarder and their punter drove a punt over 60 yards, yet they (literally) dropped the ball this one time and UVA took the next play and turned it into the touchdown that would put them over the top for the win. It wouldn't be so bad except that Tech wasn't able to squeak out a win (much less any offensive yardage) again Boston College last week, either. So, now we are 2-2, 0-2 (ACC) and on our way down the road of what we will all call a "rebuilding" season. Hogwash. I don't know what it is, but Division 1-A college football programs do not need to be wasting ticket dollars and alumni donations with years spent "rebuilding". Tech's defense needs to get back to their roots - zone defense, blitz everytime, and put up a wall against the rush. Tech's offense needs to rebuild the option that took Joe Hamilton to near-Heisman status and the team to a shared spot as ACC Co-Champs. Finally, the special teams needs to keep doing what they've been doing and not screw up again. Yes, they did not lose this game - if anyone did, it was the defense for letting UVA get that fast one past them immediately following the fumble recovery, late in the 4th quarter, but it is an understatement at this point that only perfection will keep such a fragile lead, as Tech had in their hands prior to that fumble, alive. That is of course, just the words of a naive couch-potato coach, so take them for what they're worth - or not. Regardless, this should count as a legitimate post for all those who've been complaining about my prolonged absence of late. God bless you all and good night!

Update

It's very interesting how the number of visitors decreases whenever I stop posting updates for a long period of time. I've been a little busy, yes - but mostly I've just been getting things done that were more important that this blog. I bought an edger and made my front lawn a little bit more manicured. We had our sunday school class over for a baby shower - 22 adults and 12 kids can successfully be entertained in our new home! Let's see, I've got some new students and I'm working daily to help them and teach them, while also learn from them. There have already been some challenges, but I didn't take this job lightly and I certainly expected a few tough moments along the way. Overall, though, we are having a great time! The heat is finally letting up and the rains have moved in. I'm thankful for every drop - it lowers the ambient air temperature, saving me in my electric bill, and it waters the lawn, saving me in my water bill. Praise the Lord! I started my third semester of graduate work yesterday. Hopefully I will be able to juggle this with everything else going on - after this week, I won't have much of a choice in the matter, anyway! God bless you all!

CW II

8.11.07 Greece! A new country for my map of 'hits'. I have to assume it's due to a visit from our friends, Paul and Sarah, but I can not confirm or deny that until I hear from them. They were supposed to be traveling in Greece together, so I'll watch my e-mail and let the rest of you know if I was right!


Today I took CRABGRASS WARS to the next level. I established my "shock and awe" policy and now I have craters all over my backyard where the little buggers once spread. The next step is to quickly establish a foothold in the bare regions with new seed and some water. Wish me luck as I continue to take on the fight for well-kept suburbia.

CW I

I've been 30 for a day now and I still feel 29. What's up with that? I did get a call from everyone in my family - thank you all - and today I sent 12 students off to take on the challenges of their next chapters in life.

It's hot here. I'm trying to be joyful about it, but it's still hot. It reminds me of how appreciative of my salvation. The rich dude who "looked the part" was sent to hell where it was hot. Nothing he could say or do at that point mattered - it was still hot. Don't be that guy - find out how by reading the book of John, 4th gospel in the Holy Bible.

On a side note, I've been fully engaged in what has become, "CRABGRASS WARS". Just this week, in a lawn far far away, the evil sprouts of wide-bladed weeds began their attempts to take over. I ran a covert operation a few weeks ago using "Weed and Feed" - no good. So, this week we attacked in full force - first we took out the sprouts of seeds, then we mowed - at a greater height than I usually mow. I will probably get in trouble with my HOA because I won't have the suburban "crewcut", but I don't care - the crabgrass must not get any room and the right height is the first step. Next, I carefully removed a few complete plants. Now, we wait. Water, mow, wait. Hopefully I will get an idea of what works best, but until then, there won't be much to talk about. Wish me luck!

God bless you all!

Pensacola and Google

8.6.07 Back from Pensacola, FL - spent some time on the beach and kayaking with some of our friends down there - watched a couple movies (Live Free or Die Hard: 2 Thumbs up; Ocean's 13: 1 Thumb up, 1 Thumb down) - mowed the lawn. My students graduate this friday and I finish my second semester of graduate work (1 class) this friday as well. In a much odder discussion, though - I would be very interested to know who found my site after searching google for:
"dreaded sister-in-law's visit"
Now, I have some extraordinary sisters-in-law and I don't dread any of their visits, so I was intrigued as to what on my site would have led a google search straight to Mediocre, Alaska. Lo and behold, a quick search myself for:
"dreaded sister-in-law's visit"
on Google directed the user (on the 10th listing) to my 5.19.07 blog entry. Heh heh. Anyway, there's nothing too special there except an entry describing our fun visit to my brother's house. Go ahead and check it out sometime!
Also - I'd be very interested to know who in Israel is checking out my website - so, please drop me a line if you get a chance! God Bless everyone!

Georgia's in the house

Drumroll please. . . . After much ado and waiting, the highly anticipated "Georgia Entry" on my "Fifty States" page has finally been posted. Please enjoy and feel free to comment!

My first trophy!

I'm two weeks away from graduating another class of anxious and ready students. They are excited and it always gives me a great feeling to see them continue on into the next phase of their lives. Almost as noteworthy were the events of this morning. I've never competed athletically (yes, I was on the JV golf team my 9th grade year, but I was far from competitive in that!) and I've run a few 5Ks or fun runs just, . . .for fun. Anyway, yesterday I found out that one of my coworkers and several of my students were going to run a 5K near my home, so I decided last minute to join the fold to get a nice run in on a Saturday morning while raising money for the Red Cross. Lo and behold, a thin crowd and my over-zealous spirit was enough to walk away with the 1st place trophy for my age group! You have to understand, this was truly my first sports trophy ever. I never did the little league thing like my brothers or take up any sports very seriously through high school or college, so I was pretty pleased. Anyway, it's interesting that a few songs came to mind as I took on the ups and downs of a local neighborhood for 22 minutes and 51 seconds (official time): Consuming Fire by Third Day and The Finish Line by Steve Taylor. The latter, I sang to myself twice and I am positive that the notion and visage of Christ rising to His feet as I stretched towards the finish line of life was a very motivating notion. It was fun, too, to stretch myself and do something different. That, too, is what Mediocre, Alaska is about - waking up to a new ambition and taking it on, head on. I'm thankful to my coworkers and students who came up with the idea and I've been encouraged to try it again sometime.
I think I need to archive some of this.

Not quite Mediocre, Alaska

What a whirl-wind two weeks! We closed on the house on the 25th and immediately drove to meet friends and family waiting with a 24' U-haul ready to unload. There was little time before I would have to pay a second day on the truck, so we emptied the whole thing in less than 1.5 hours! It was definitely impressive and I made the deadline, saving some cash in the process. Since then, we have tried to settle in, but life never stops in our household - the night of the 27th all four of us left for Atlanta. Rachel and the kids on their way with her family to Missouri while I flew to Alaska to get in some fishing and take care of some business.


The Much More than Mediocre Fishing Trip

Fishing in Alaska is nothing like fishing in other parts of the country. Besides the size of the catch and the lengths gone to get it, the distances between spots and homes is pretty absurd. For instance, I flew into Fairbanks, AK to meet my friends. From there we drove over 3 hours south to get to the campsite for the first fishing trip, a chartered king salmon trip on the Gulkana river. We didn't pull into camp until past 3 in the morning, yet we still made our 6 AM charter and limited out. Next was a 2 hour drive south from there to Chitina, where we would take a half-hour boat ride down one of the most treacherous rivers in the world to dipnet for our allowed 43 sockeye (red) salmon and 2 king salmon. Now with over 170 lbs of salmon fillets in the coolers, we headed south to Valdez, another couple hours through some of the most beautiful country in the world, to get our fish vaccuum sealed and frozen solid. So far we had slept about 6 hours and spent the nights at a campground and in the forest on the cliffs of the Copper River; needless to say, a night in a hotel would be nice. So, we got the last room in town and crashed after some celebratory pizza. Sunday was a day of rest and trout fishing at Blueberry Lake just outside of town as well as fishing for pink salmon off Allison Point. We resettled at our final campground for Sunday night and slept well before our 12 hour halibut charter from Valdez Harbor. The halibut charter left a little to be desired as far as service, but the captain had some things working against him - so I don't hold him completely responsible. Regardless, we ended the long day at sea with meeting our limit yet again and taking home a "souvenir" decent size sea bass as well (not the tastiest, but hey, fish is fish!) Now, with over 230 lbs of salmon, halibut, and sea bass in the coolers, our crew of three drove north, arriving back home around 2 AM, Tuesday. Tired, smelly, disorganized, yet laden with the best fish in the world, we understood why it is called the "suicide run" of fishing. For me, though, it was certainly far from mediocre! Thank you friends, and thank you, Alaska!

Homeowners Eve

Tonight is the last night we will spend in a base house for who knows how long. It could be 3 years, it could be the rest of my life. I know that we are supposed to be moving and buying this house, I believe God ordained it and set everything in motion in the world and in our hearts to make it happen, though I am still bittersweet regarding the thought of never living in base housing again. It was always nice to be living in a safe, gated community, with top-notch armed security surrounded by people who are going through most of the same stuggles and heartaches. It was also nice having quick access to work and great benefits like commissary shopping or 0% sales tax.
In the end, I do not regret any of the time we spent in military housing over the course of the last 6 years. We have lived in some pretty awesome housing and some pretty shabby housing, but it was the constants mentioned above that make it such a great experience.
By the time I make my next entry, we will be homeowners! Praise the Lord!

E up the wall

Yes, it has been way too long! SO, I will make it up to you all by posting this great video of our amazing daughter scaling a climbing wall a month after her second birthday. Enjoy and please feel free to share with your friends!

Soon to be Homeowners!

As the picture down and to the right states, we are days away from closing on our first home. This is a huge step of faith and God has closed a lot of doors while opening a ton of doors to make this happen. We are very excited about the extra square footage inside and out and we are also excited about the investment that it will be for our family and our future. Your prayers are greatly appreciated as we venture down this new path of home ownership.

House Hunter

A funny thing happened today - I received my first website visitor from the "Land Down Under". So, if you're reading this, Aussie, welcome to Mediocre, Alaska! Australia and New Zealand are high on my list of distant lands that I pray we make it to some day, and not in the distant future, but while my kids are still young and not yet teenagers.

We spent several hours this week looking at houses all over Montgomery. Part of me wishes we were not forced to move every three or four years, then I wouldn't have to worry so much about resale! I could truly find the best home to suit our needs. It just so happens that our biggest need is the ability to unload it when the time comes to move on. That's OK, though, as I'm still not completely in love with Alabama - yes, it is growing on me a tad, just not nearly enough to take the place that Alaska holds in my heart. God bless you all this week as we enter a new month!

AMY!

6.01.07 AMY! Please send me your e-mail address; my "Contact Us" form does not automatically send it, even if you were to fill in the "Your E-mail Address:" block. Thanks! Another fun day in store here in Middle Alabama!

Bun in the oven

Happy Memorial Day! You will be pleased to hear that we are expecting our third child! The bun is baking away at a comfy 98.6 degrees F and has been for about 7 weeks. We'll keep you updated, but for now - that's all that really matters that is going on in our lives! God bless!

The hunt is on

We are on a house hunt. Our first house to be more precise. It is a lot of fun, but pretty stressful as well. I hope that we find the home that He wants for us; I have faith that will happen. I received a message from the "contact us" form that expressed some surprise that we had not yet included Georgia in our review of the fifty states. Do not fret Goobers and Peachheads, your state will soon be added as we both were raised in the Pheonix of the south, Atlanta, Georgia. It was a great time, but I can honestly say that the traffic got the better of me and I am glad I'm not there anymore! For more GA info, check back to the Fifty States page often.

format c: . . . .ugh

I've dreaded this day for quite a while - when I have to reformat my hard drive and reinstall windows. It is never a fun task, but I've had a lot of practice. My first computer (which I still use as a media machine) is a Gateway 233 PII that I had to reformat and re-install an OS about 12 times the first month I owned it. This machine, a newer Dell, is much less moody, though it is good to clean it up at least once every year.

In other news, we are having my brother and his wife over this weekend, which we're excited about! We'll have a good time hanging out, restringing guitars, driving around town and sharing our life with someone else.

Where'd my voice go?

We're both sick. I'm pretty sure our daughter gave it to us as a parting shot before we left her for the last week to go cruising. She ended up having a great time anyway and my wife and I can barely talk much less sing. So, here we go - into another week and back to the grindstone. Please pray we get better real quickly, as we both enjoy singing at church and my job requires me to lecture quite frequently.

Six years and counting

Sadly, the cruise had to end at some time. It was a glorious time, though - full of midnight mexican buffets, chocolate melting cake (wow), gallons of Coca-Cola (to make the drink card worthwhile), a very bumpy bike ride down a 2,000' descent over 8.5 miles, tons of awesome music, and lots of time with my favorite human bean in the whole world - my wife.

Speaking of, today marks not only the end of a great vacation, but the beginning of our seventh year of marriage. Six years ago, our wedding was the last event of an extremely busy two days. On Friday I was commissioned into the Air Force and we attended the rehearsal and rehearsal dinner. On Saturday, I was party to a massive 3-hr+ graduation while Rachel started getting ready. That afternoon we got hitched in front of about 250 of our closest friends and family members. It was definitely a whirlwind, but well worth it. She has complemented me in ways I never anticipated over the last six years and I am certainly a MUCH better man for knowing her.

On a side note, I would like to thank my brother for posting the last entry - I was not able to post from the cruise, but he was more than willing to help me out. So, yes, he is the coolest person in the world.

Mid-Cruise Update

Tomorrow, we will hit Ocho Rios to take a leisurely mountain bike ride then on to a cove for some snorkeling. After that, we'll get on the boat, eat some dinner and catch a couple concerts.


So far we've gotten reacquainted with our friends from Third Day and yes, they remembered us from Alaska! Sweet! I'll expound on the story later, but my internet time is short

So far we've seen Shaun Grove, Aaron Shust, Third Day (best concert of their's I think we've ever been to, out of five), Barlowgirl (chicks ROCK!), Russ Lee, Salvador (the bassist for this band is UNBELIEVABLE!), Todd Agnew, Tree63 (AKA "U2" of the Christian scene), David Nasser (a speaker), and Austin Carty (of Survivor fame). We've actually met almost all of the folks mentioned as well. Left to hear is Kutless, SONICFLOOd, Building 429, Nicole C. Mullins, Mark Harris, and a few more. The boat is terrific (of course), but what makes this so awesome is the clientelle. Everyone is excited about being here and excited about the music and having a great time without getting drunk stupid or deep in gambling debt. God is opening our eyes to some new thoughts and I'm learning more about myself at the same time.

My internet time is about to run out, but I pray that you are doing well this week. Please pray also for Elizabeth as she is having some separation issues right now. Pam and Jack are doing an awesome job, but E is (and has always been) a little particular about us both being there all the time, so there is definitely some struggling going on. Andrew is great, of course, probably just a little energetic!

John Sulhoff is the coolest person in the world.

Anyway, God bless ya'll and have a great wednesday!

-Rachel and David

Before the Boat

Boy, a lot's happened in the last week! I finished my first semester of graduate work, graduated my first class of students, and left town for a cruise! We will be on the Music Boat 2007 along with 14 Christian music artists and several guest speakers. It should be a ton of fun and we are really excited about the break alone! I will try to post pics and updates from the boat to this website, though it will depend on the internet capabilities available to me on board. Until next time, "Anchors Aweigh!"

Sacrifice and the Military

Another sad day, with the loss of a US Navy Blue Angels pilot after his F-18 crashed in Beaufort, SC around 4 PM EST. It was his first demonstration with the team after having been a part of the team for two years.

Most people don't understand the sacrifices servicemen make outside of the loss of life on the battlefield. Since I've been active duty, I've been assigned to several units that lost a member during "peacetime" events. Equipment maintenance, flying training missions, obstacle courses, and aerial demonstrations have all taken the lives of fellow servicemembers during my current stint. Even the first casualty of Operation Enduring Freedom was a vehicle accident, not a shot from the Taliban. Yes, we sometimes are required to make an ulitmate sacrifice as a result of direct enemy action, but these brave men and women, who die off of the field of battle, are no less honorable.

Glory Revealed

4.19.07 Last night, Rachel and I went to "Glory Revealed" - a night of worship and word that is part of a triumverant (sp?) book/tour/CD gig headed up by David Nasser and Mac Powell. There were a lot of great artists singing some awesome music and a terrific message from David Nasser, all in this really small church in Tuscaloosa. It was awesome, to say the least!

Today was also my last final from my first semester of graduate school. Man, I'm tired! It was strange being in college again. I definitely like the flexibility of online courses, however I still find myself falling into the same habits of my undergrad years. Hopefully, the Lord will teach me how to focus better and manage my time such that I can take better advantage of this education.

Finding what is lost

This morning our pastor spoke of how much he hates losing! Losing a game or losing things. I can't stand losing either! About two weeks ago, I lost my bluetooth ear piece for my cell phone. Man, that made me mad! I was looking everywhere for it and coming up empty! Of course, it was this sunday, after our pastor's sermon that lo and behold, it was found underneath the shoe rack in the closet. I was elated! I really counted it as lost; knew that only by God's grace would I find this thing again!



In other news, today we found ourselves doing something that I used to love doing with my dad on Sunday afternoons - look at houses! No, we aren't ready to buy, but we are thinking about what to do when "number 3" comes along. So, we left church, bought a map at a convenience store, and started searching around the really nice Cloverdale district of Montgomery. It is definitely a possibility! What a nice area, with so many nice homes. There's lots of research to do and plenty of time to do it - but for now, we are happy in our lovely government housing.

Tax Amendment

Man, filing a 1040X (Amended U.S. Individual Income Tax Return) is actually more challenging than filing the original 1040A! Hopefully I got it right and I'll get my refund in the promised 2-3 months. . . .

NOAA in our hallway

"This is the NOAA weather radio. . ." One more afternoon of strong thunderstorms and potential tornadic activity. So, we huddled up in the hallway and waited out the storm. This time is was pretty close. We got tons of rain and probably some hail that has since melted, but no tornado. That's OK - I have no complaints.

Anyway, I noticed that a "blip" on the map showed up from California. Not sure who that may be, but we'd be glad to meet you! Please feel free to contact us!

Introducing: Comments

I have been running through the woods for eight hours a day, the last two days and I'm tired. (They'll never find me!) No, it was work related, all legit. Anyway, in my restless tire, I've decided to add some content to the site. Reviews and Comments. Wow! That's pretty ingenious! I know, I get it from my wife.

Regardless of the origin of my humble ingenuity, I hope you enjoy these additions to the growing phenom that is actually just mediocre.

The Genesis Question, Dr. Hugh Ross

He is risen! He is risen indeed! It is Easter Sunday and we just got back from the first two of three church services today. By tonight, my voice will be completely gone. Tomorrow I run 1.5 miles twice, hopefully 10 minutes on the first run and 11 minutes on the second run.


I read a book for a class, The Genesis Question, by Dr. Hugh Ross of "Reasons to Believe" (RTB) and I am very surprised (somewhat discouraged) with how much bickering seems to go on between RTB and the Institute for Creation Research (ICR). They are so intertwined in an argument over the "young Earth model" of creation vs. the "old Earth model" that it is hard to see the purpose of their individually ministries. I believe we can manipulate the scientific record to support any number of theories. However, it seems more important to focus on the vastly complex simplicity of the Universe and how it can only be that way as the product of a beginner. Even the Big Bang theory attributes everything to a beginning, hence there must have been a beginner.

What do you think?

135 out of 130? Math is hard.

OK. There are more than one of you. SO, I turned in my research proposal and was surprised that I didn't get the full credit on the main proposal itself - only 150 out of 160 possible points. I was even more surprised, shocked rather, that I got 135 points out of 130 on my Review of Literature. I'm still trying to figure out the math, but I think it's a good thing.

Today, Rachel's grandparents drove down to visit for the weekend. It is a real blessing to have visitors, and we have been able to have lots since we've arrived in Montgomery. The kids are, of course, excited! Tomorrow is Easter Sunday - He is risen, He is risen indeed! - and we will be doing tons of singing and guitar playing at church for three services. It's a real privilege to use our talents as part of a ministry. I know we aren't Third Day, but God is using us in a capacity of ministry regardless and it's a blessing.


I think, in honor of the grandparents' visit, I will add Missouri to the Fifty States page. Enjoy!

They grow up so fast

Well, the one of you asked, "What in the Sam Hill are you talking about?" with regards to the comment, ". . . the worst is really yet to come." Well, as far as MY daughter goes, the worst is in reference to the rate of her growing up. At this rate it's not that bad, just a little difficult. However eventually, I am fully aware that I will wake up one day and she will be out of the house, married and living in Boise. I certainly wasn't referring to the constant requests for mall money, borrowing the car, going to a prom, piercing her navel, spring break school trips, 1,000-guest wedding reception catering, or Michael W. Smith albums.

We interrupt this schooling to bring you . . .ALASKA

For the one of you who checks back to our site regularly, here is an update. AAAAAGGGGHHHH!!!!!!! My first semester as a graduate student is grinding down to the wire. Unfortunately, I am finding myself doing the same things I did years ago as an undergrad - waiting till the last minute, praying a lot, and spending hours recalculating the points for the semester to find out what I need to get on certain assignments to receive. . . . an "A" or a "B" or a "C" . . . . you know the drill. The difference between then and now is that I have a really genuine interest in what I'm studying/researching and hopefully it will be able to make a difference someday! In other news, we are getting fairly settled into our new church. We spend almost all of our wednesday evenings after I get home from work singing our hearts (and vocal chords) out and sometimes playing around with the six string. Soon our daughter will be two! Pretty amazing to see her grow up so quickly, yet I know the worst is really yet to come.



**NEWSFLASH!!**

I got a call today from one of my buddies at Eielson and we are going to try an Alaskan triumverant this Fourth of July weekend! I can't wait! King salmon fishing on the Gulkana, sockeye salmon dipnetting on the Copper River, and halibut/silver salmon fishing in Valdez! Should be tons of fun, and I'll get my driver's license renewed while I'm in state (the real reason for the visit). I can't wait to add more to my Mediocre, Alaska Memoirs.

Hello, Paul

Hello Paul and Sarah. What are you doing, Paul?

With Super Suction Ears and Super Friends

3.6.07 Tomorrow is our son's fourth birthday! As an early present, I presented him with a LarryBoy doll with super suction ears that I had bought off of eBay. It was intended to replace one he had lost a while ago. I don't know that anything could have made him happier! He was so excited about getting his LarryBoy again I thought he was going to cry! He's actually had a very happy week, in general. First, on Friday, we went to Gatlinberg, TN to spend a couple nights with some good friends of ours. There we went to the Ripley's Aquarium of the Smokies - a very interactive aquarium that has GREAT discounts for military! He loved the aquarium, of course, and was even happier to share the experience with our friends' four kids, most of whom are his contemporaries. The next morning, we woke up to a blanket of snow across the Smokies! It was great to see him remember living in Alaska and the joy of snow. He had fun making snow balls and running around with his friends. Finally, our friends decided to stop at our house for dinner on their way home to Pensacola, so once again, he spent some quality time with his friends, reading, playing "sea creature" and having an all-out pillow fight! What a joy for me, as a parent, to see him so happy. Today, he was greatly improved in his Gymnastics class and we decided to treat him with an early birthday present. I love watching him develop every day into the fine young man God desires. He definitely has his ups and downs, but in the end, he knows right from wrong and how to show love. I can't complain about anything!

Bye Bye Bloodie

A moment of silence please, for our pet blood shrimp. Though he lived happily in our marine tank for several fortnights, his days were inevitably numbered. We are still in the investigation stages, however it appears that he struggled so much with his most recent molting that he just plumb kicked the bucket. Rachel (she will resume the story) found him around 2 in the afternoon when she went to feed the fish, and I wondered why the shrimp wasn't out doing his normal scavenging for the food. Then I looked under the archway under the rock and there he was, laying on his side, with the top half of his exoskeleton stuck over most of his legs and part of his head. There was a small snail crawling over the partially shed exoskeleton. I called our fish store and talked to the owner. He told me that molting is such a delicate process and that sometimes it doesn't end well. He has shed multiple times since the first of November with no problems. I did some reading online, and found that many shrimp and crab owners have experience similar tragedies. I am sad. He was so cute and so fun to watch as he cleaned our rabbit fish and scavenged around with all his little legs scurrying him from here to there.

So this is the first time that, I, Rachel, have written on our "blog". It still seems strange to me that we have a blog. I sort of doubt that I have anything to say that people would want to read about. I did, however, run into a girl I went to college with. I was her RA. She was so sweet back then, as she seems now, and it was neat to run in to her at our new church! I've been praying I could get re-aquainted with some friends from my past. She wasn't really a close friend, and it took me a minute to place her, but I'm still praying I can get reunited with several other friends from my past who were truly integral to my life for a time. That's all for me tonight! I pray the Lord to bless and keep you!

Birmingham Zoo

The Birmingham Zoo has a lot to offer the average family of 2.67 children. Bring a good stroller and comfortable walking shoes, as it is fairly spread out for a city zoo. No, it's not Disney, but it does have an impressive menagerie of animals grouped by their geographical locale more than anything else. I'm not sure it has more animals that the Montgomery zoo, but it does have more eateries, more walking paths, more interpretive displays, and more notoriety (sp?). We had a nice time today - my favorite was the gorilla. This ape was closer to the glass and more interesting to watch than any other of its type I had ever seen. The gorilla systematically chewed away its lunch, then regurgitated it, spat it onto his hand, and began eating it again. This happened several times over. Not sure why, but I guess that's just how it goes for these wild animal. It was about 1.5 hours away, but the kids, already being excellent travellers, had no problem with the distance. Afterwards, we visited Smith's Variety shop in the community right outside the zoo entrance. That was kind of like a Ben Franklin, in a smaller space, with four times as much stuff. Most of it was nicer than the typical dime-store merchandise, so it is needless to say that we spent all of our time "just looking". I should have guessed before going in, noticing that the storefront was flanked by Mercedes, Infiniti, and Lexus SUVs - one toting a 2-star DoD sticker. It was fun nevertheless and we went home, exhausted after another exciting President's Day. God Bless!

Life never slows down

The family is definitely busy! It was nice to stay in this weekend, although we had a great time last Sunday making the trek to Atlanta for a housewarming/superbowl party at my brother and sister-in-law's home. It was nice to have my whole family together for the first time in a couple years - we're talking 20 of us, all in the same home at the same time! Amazing! Anyway, this weekend was all about getting back to the grindstone. I spent most of Saturday recouping from my first week with this class of students and catching up to my studies for my Masters degree program. I also chilled for the first time in a while with Rachel and watched a movie. This week brought another activity into our life - choir and music are once again in full swing in the Sulhoff household! Somehow we are finding ourselves singing with the church choir and occasionally, I'm picking up the guitar for a few songs on Sunday. The kids are starting up gymnastics and our house is getting littered with music and notes for my classes. Overall though, God is good - all the time! This week we will celebrate Valentine's Day and I'm at a loss! Hopefully, I'll think of something . . .

Third Day Grammy

Hot off the press! Third Day wins Grammy for album "Wherever You Are" !!! No surprise from this home, of course - as it really is an amazing production that captures the essence of Christ meeting us when we need Him most. Congratulations to the guys and family of Third Day! This is their third Grammy, a pretty awesome feat for a bunch of guys who met in high school and decided to share their love of God and music with others, no matter how big or small the audience. May His wonders never cease!

Hypocrisy!

I had a dillema this week. I advised a student that it was important for them to learn how to keep themselves accountable for their own actions. It made a lot of sense, until the student asked for an example. At that time, I had a complete mental block. It became a humbling moment of understanding where and how I lack self-discipline. It was not fun to tell the student that I didn't have an example. It wasn't fun being a hypocrite for that moment in time. Well, I spent the week suffering over a good response and on Friday, it came to me. Just after I had counseled this student for not following my directions, Irealized that I had given up the opportunity to go home a little earlier and spend time with my family, in order to explain my disappointment in this students performance. I failed to convey what I wanted such that the student delivered accordingly. In response to my own failure at meeting my own standard, I forced myself to stay later at work and counsel this student. That was a momentary glimpse of what personal accountability is about. It is not about resolutions and keeping them or getting the best grades in school. It is about removing personal privilege in order to right the wrong. It is about serving the standard and others before serving my own wants and desires. I felt bad about not having an example, but I was able to convey this to the student, and I believe it sunk in - in a much more frank, modest manner.

A new career in full motion

Today I had the "Newcomer's Welcome" for my organization. It's OK that I've only been working there since October. There were some folks there who had been on the job since last June. I'm used to getting training after the fact, though. At our first assignment in South Dakota, I went to my job technical training in October, I had been working in that job since July. A year and a half later, I got the actual in-depth training on the specific tasks I had been accomplishing that entire time. Most of my training as a parent has been on the job. Same goes for my faith. Just now, this semester, I'm starting to understand how to really interpret the scriptures which have been the foundation of my salvation as a Christian since I was six. I don't really think it matters when you get trained, though. I think it is more important to stay open-minded to the training and not bitter that you didn't get it in the beginning. Rachel is sewing some curtains for the kids' room and the house is quiet after another long day.

"Buzz Lightyear to th......." grrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr

We are so easily distracted. Andrew borrowed someone else's "Buzz Lightyear" and barely got a wink during his nap today. Instead I spent the afternoon listening to him punching the buttons on the toy. . . "Buzz Lightyear to the rescue!" and laser noises punctuated what would have been a quiet afternoon working on my Masters. Now, I'm blogging about it and a little upset at his lack of obedience. Parenthood is not easy. I can only begin to imagine what God thought when He realized Eve had done the one thing she was not supposed to do. Akiane, the completely amazing and talented 12-yr old artist who has painted works that can compare to the greats, painted an amazing depiction of Eve in the Garden. It showed her in front of what appears to be a bunch of grapes. The fruit is rather the fruit of the tree of good and evil - red and green were the prominent colors of fruit. One of the green fruits shows a tear, where she had taken a bite - and instead of goodness flowing from it, blood came out. This deeply depicts how deceived she and Adam were by the serpent. I wonder if Andrew has been deceived into thinking it's OK to disobey. I wonder if he really understands the err of his ways. But then again, I wonder if I understand the err of my ways when I disobey. Have I really grown more mature or have I just grown older? Unfortunately, the case is probably more the latter than the former. God bless you all!

The Good Shepherd

Too many days since last post. That's OK, though, because only about 3 people have looked at the site since. Although a tad down-trodden, I am not totally depressed by our low site count. But, if you want to make a brother feel better, tell your friends to check out our site in their spare time. I just saw "The Good Shepherd" which I will dub "The Fairly Slow-Developing Movie of Overpaid Actors Projected on a Too-Small Screen at My Local Theater with Crummy Sound". I can just hear the nominations now, "And the winner, for longest movie title of the year is. . . . At any rate, I think Matt Damon actually said about 70 words or less the entire movie and he was way to promiscuous for my liking. I lost a lot of respect for his character, though I'm sure the director had some reason for all of that - I just wanted able to think deep enough for Coppola or DeNiro tonight. Maybe I should have stayed home and watched "Finding Nemo" again. After three weeks of working on my masters, I've decided that it is doable - just very time consuming and sometimes confusing. I love using the online classroom tools though. How great is it that I can watch the lecture anytime I want and take a test anytime during a two-week window??? I certainly wish my profs in college had record, pause, rewind, stop, and most importantly - fast-forward. I haven't used the latter yet with my current professors, as they seem to truly be worth their salt. Until my next spare instant - continue to love your neighbor! You'll love the results!

Welcome Nemo's

1.20.07 Masters degrees are hard! In other news, we picked up two perculas today ("Nemo-fish") and they are happily exploring their new home, our 46-gallon marine aquarium. They are joining the current residents, a blood shrimp who literally jumps out of his skin about once a month, a very shy and colorific rabbitfish, a skittish fairy wrasse, two sand stars, 20 lbs of "live" rock, and a menagerie of other creatures, most of them so small that we can't see them. Unfortunately, our son's personal tank that he got for Christmas, is fishless after an unsuccessful habitation by three Wal-Mart guppies. We'll try again in a little while, after the ammonia and nitrite levels drop to a more acceptable concentration (0 mg/l). The kids are excited about the "Nemo-fish" and we are excited about watching the interaction in the tank over the next few days. Until next time, FISH ON!

Reunion - a beautiful thing

1.16.07 Back in our home, and settled after the pipe was fixed. Even one night away can stir life up a bit. Lately, one word has come to mind a lot - Reunion. Since arriving in Alabama, we have had the privilege of re-uniting with several folks, sometimes even accidentally! Somehow I've been able to reconnect with friends and teachers from High School, College, our first and second assignments as well. That is, of course, not to mention the fact that we have spent considerably more time with family than we had during the years in Alaska. Sometimes you can just feel that God is about to do something different with your life. I feel that way now and I believe that this reunion with so many friends, family, and mentors from days past is preparing us for something great. We'll keep you posted as we try to keep our eyes shut and hearts open to His will.

Broken water

As time rolls by, without discrimination, some things are built up through hard work and labor while other things corrode and fade away through fatigue and neglect. One of the things that corroded away early this morning, was the water main to our housing unit! So, we are off to spend our nights in the lodging facility on base, free of charge, due to the unnecessary inconvenience. Hopefully we won't be there too long, but it should be fun regardless. I've got to go pack the van, so God Bless!

Rappell tower of life

Welcome visitors from my Old Testament class! Today, I learned the ropes - literally! I spent the day on the ropes course here at my job so that I can be a successful facilitator when my first students show up. There's something about climbing four flights of stairs to the top of an open-air tower that adds about 150 lbs to your weight! By the time I got the top of the tower the first time, I had tons of emotion and fear setting in. I won't spoil the tasks of the course for any potential trainees out there who may read this, but understand that the first one was not easy at all for me. However, it was necessary. Matthew's Gospel reads: "Come," [Jesus] said. Then Peter got down out of the boat, walked on the water and came toward Jesus. But when he saw the wind, he was afraid and, beginning to sink, cried out, "Lord, save me!" (NIV, Mt 14:29-30) I have an inkling of an idea of how Peter felt - though I was harnassed to aircraft-grade cable and my footing was a lot more sure than his. It reminded me of Christianity and a song by Third Day, "Wire". Christ compares it to a camel walking through the eye of a needle as well as a narrow path that we must not stray from. However, just like today, if we stray, left or right, there is a safety harness there - God's forgiveness. It may not be a pleasant experience, but it is a second chance. By the end of the day, I had rappelled a 40' vertical drop, five times and set my own lines for the journey down twice. Not a bad way to spend a brisk wednesday in Alabama!

Visitors from the north

On New Year's Day, we hosted a group of some amazing young men and women. These were Airmen and former Airmen, who (in addition to dedicating their lives to their nation's defense) attended the Urbana Missions Conference amidst heavy pressure from work and peers. In addition to this display of faith commitment and heart for others, they took personal leave time to assist the continued efforts in the Gulf Coast region in the rebuilding process. Talk about self-sacrifice! At my beckoning, they stopped over for an extremely short 2 hours to take a minute and be served themselves by my wife and to answer our questions about their journey. It was so wonderful that they stopped and even more wonderful to see that God was indeed moving in their hearts. Please pray for them as well as the other 21,000 who attended this conference as they seek His will in sharing the Good News.

Georgia Tech blues

Happy New Year! A couple weeks, some tornado warnings, visits from friends near and far, and the season premier of "The Apprentice" later, and I'm back to blog. Some sad news first, Georgia Tech lost to West Virginia in the Toyota Gator Bowl. Some good news though, it looks like Taylor Bennett just might work out as a great q'back. I don't really know a ton about football, but I know that they broke more records in that game (though they lost) than they've done in a long time. I also know that Tech needs a break - and he may be the one who delivers it. They haven't won an ACC Championship since 1998 and they are certainly due for a change. Sure, they've been winning games and getting to bowls, but they are having trouble closing the big game. UGA, Wake, and West Virginia were all completely beatable teams and Tech was in a winnable situation during all of those games - yet, they didn't make it happen. I know how much work goes into a class act football team and I know that Chan Gailey is running a class act program. I believe that it comes down to the attitude of the fans and the attitude of the players at the end of the day. I wish the best to Coach Gailey and his crew as they start the long preparation for next season.