Powell endorsement

I love this excerpt from the blog from Stu with the Glenn Beck show...you can click on the link to go to his full blog:

Glenn Beck - Stu's Blog

Glenn went over some of the reasons why Colin Powell said he endorsed Barack Obama on Meet the Press: 

"I think he is a transformational figure" 
"He is a new generation coming" 
"Because of his ability to inspire" 
"Because of the inclusive nature of his campaign" 
"Because he is reaching out all across America" 
"Because of who he is" 
"His rhetorical abilities" 
"He has both style and substance" 

Apparently to Powell, this is "the standard of being a successful president, being an exceptional president." 

Huh? 

I’m not one to care about who endorses who, and I don’t think endorsements generally matter that much. This probably is about as big as they get, and I still don’t know if it will change too many people’s minds at this point. 

More importantly though-- shouldn't democrats shun Powell's endorsement? I mean, reject it out of hand. This is THE guy who "lied" to you about WMDs. Remember that? 

habitat show

Good evening.

Went to the Music Builds Tour last night in OKC.  Red, Jars of Clay, Robert Randolph and The Family Band, switchfoot and Third Day.

All had great sets...at the end they were all on stage (except Red) and sang, 'When Love Comes to Town'..the old U2 song.  All in all...great show!

More later.

-r 

things

Four things I liked about today...

1) Driving in the sunny weather thinking about my boys playing on the playground

2) Talking to the boys and Nicole while eating dinner and listening about their day at school

3) Video taping the boys acting very silly

4) Going to a client at 9pm and not having to stay very long!  :)

blahg

Been awhile...thought I would share something of my day.

Started out with watching it rain through the office window after the wife and kids left for school, I like to watch it rain.

Went to a client and even though I had to reload a workstation because of a nasty bug, I had fun because the people that work there are fun.

Was asked 7 questions in a group setting at church tonight and mine was, "What is something God has been showing you lately?"  I said He has been showing me that I am selfish and talked to my group about it.  But then, Rob walked around to the groups and had someone pick out a number and whomever had that question had to tell the entire congregation what they had answered...and it was me.  So then I told everyone there that God had been showing me I am selfish and that I need to change.  That was fun.  :-|

My day in a nutshell.

-R

jon foreman

Just a quick note (it's been awhile)...

If you have not heard the Jon Foreman solo stuff (singer for Switchfoot)...check it out. He has released four EP's called 'Spring', 'Summer', 'Fall' and 'Winter'. You can download them or have them shipped to you.

Go here!

-r

travel/study

Man...what a couple of weeks. I think my brain has almost passed out. I have one more day of studying and exams and then I will board the plane back home with four more initials after my name. Is it worth it? Me not being with Nicole when her brother died and missing the funeral even? She seems to think so...she says I am taking care of the family by doing it.

I wanted to do this, but I was torn as well. Get it all done in a short amount of time and then focus on the roll outs and the details of the system when I return back to town.

It is going to be good. CUCM is a cool product and will be fun to work with...so I glad I am getting this opportunity. It never hurts to have a Cisco Professional level certification either!

So...tomorrow around noon Pacific time, I will be taking the last test to get my Cisco Certified Voice Professional certification and flying back into town! Woo hoo!

Wish me luck!

-r

adultery

Reading through Proverbs this morning, I ran across this...a sidebar in my Bible (the Strive edition for Men). It talks about the dangers of adultery...something every man has struggled with, struggling with or will struggle with at some time in their marriage. It was an issue back then, it is an issue now...check out the warnings below (first the scripture, then the sidebar):

Wisdom will save you from the adulterous woman, from the wayward woman with her seductive words, who has left the partner of her youth and ignored the covenant she made before God. Surely her house leads down to death and her paths to the spirits of the dead. None who go to her return or attain the paths of life.
Proverbs 2:16-19

If you've ever toyed with the idea of having an affair, you know how strong the allure of a new sexual conquest can be. That thrill of erotic pursuit can have a hypnotizing effect on guys - to the point that we block out all else, including common sense.
If you're under such a spell, this passage in Proverbs should act as a slap in the face. Something to wake you from your fantasy world.
Regardless of how smooth or calculating you think you are, you can't pursue an affair without destroying what you have with your wife. That's a given. Experts may tell you that relationships can be pieced back together after an affair. But things can never be the same as they were before. There are no 'do-overs' where faithfulness is involved.

-r

nomads

Having no house of your own is weird. Although, I drove by the house today and it is coming along...I will think about posting a picture of it sometime.

Three things about today that were cool...

1) The coffee tasted extra good this morning! :)

2) More coffee at the office...whenever Craig and I are at the office at the same time, there is usually coffee involved

3) Getting the B-ACD script working correctly on the phone system

Until next time...

-r

things

OK...going to talk about three things a little later, but an update on things first.
Sold the house last week and moved into a friend's house that is on the market, but empty since they are living in their new house already. Been there for about a week and a half...now it is sold and we have to be out of it by the 18th! What fun. Of course, we are going to be house hopping with friends until the new house is finished, which is about the end of May, first of June.
No worries though...God is in control.

Man...the storms the other night! Holy cow! Thought the windows were going to blow out from the wind and the hail...have to love that Oklahoma weather!

Here are my three things for today...or yesterday I should say!

1) Having time to go through some scripture with the Lord before work...misc scripture that talks about being just and merciful; but also Old Testament scripture that points to grace; God wanting us and our hearts, not the empty sacrifices that we offer in lieu of a right heart

2) Getting to have lunch with a good friend and talking about misc things and getting his input on issues

3) Getting a shampoo and haircut...gotta love the feeling of someone else washing your hair

Have to get to work...and watch the radar for that incoming weather! Sweet!

vacation

Sitting in Dizzy Beans coffee shop in Gulf Shores, Alabama...coffee is fair, definitely not Doubleshot.

I don't know if you have read lately about people wanting to be happy...no kidding? One of the ways they say to help with that is to journal everyday about things that are positive. Cool...I get that...focus on the positive. There are other things though...maybe filling that empty hole in your heart with the only thing that can fill it...God. Hmmm....novel concept. This Easter Sunday may just be the time to go to your local church to find out more about the Risen Lord. He fills me up every day...no matter how many times I mess up and what not. That's the beauty of grace. :)

Anyway...I still like the idea of thinking about the positive things in life. Journaling about them. There is a website/blog that does just that, Three Beautiful Things. Check it out.

Here are my three things for today:

1) Being awakened by the rising sun in Alabama after a good night's sleep

2) Having both of my boys curl up with me on the couch to watch Curious George while I drink my coffee

3) Seeing God's strength and glory in the waves of the ocean this week

Quick and to the point...I could list more, but I have to run to get the wife and kids after seeing a movie!

-r

thanksgiving

Well, another Thanksgiving is here. I am thankful I am not cooking the turkey this year, I really didn't want to mess with it this year. As a matter of fact, I do not think I am going to eat any turkey this year either. Imagine that...no turkey. Now ham on the other hand...I will eat that. :)

Couple of things I just wanted to drop...

My son just not obeying today...just basically snubbing his nose at me. Frustrating. Then it hit me. I wish it hadn't really, but it did. The words in John 14:15...

"If you love me, you will obey what I command."

So this is how God feels when I am disobedient...sort of. Much more enhanced I am sure. How can I get so bent out of shape when my sons are disobedient when I do the same thing to my Father? If that isn't a slap in the face.

This morning as I am lying in bed awake...just praying to the Lord. Thanking Him. Thinking about what if I am the one to pray at my brother's house over the Thanksgiving dinner...what would I pray? Then it turned into...if I am thinking about what I would pray in front of other people...why can't I pray that right now? It isn't about what I pray in front of other people...it is what is in my heart and what I talk to the Lord about myself. When no one else is around. It is just me and Him. A relationship. That is what a lot of people do not get about Christianity...and that is a fault of ours because we have not explained it well enough I guess. It is not about religion, it's about a relationship.

OK...the things I will leave with...the things I am thankful for...in no particular order.

My kids
My wife
My brother
My house
My job
My church
My friends
My life
My faith
And most of all, my savior, Jesus Christ.

Be thankful...be thoughtful...

-r

long time

Hey there...long time, no post. It seems that is what I write every time I update this blog. I stink at keeping it updated. I should see it as therapeutic , right? Whatever.

I am supposed to be getting a lesson ready for my small group this Sunday night and I haven't even started that. I am so pathetic. :)

Life has been going on...boys are getting bigger, I'm getting bigger! :) I am starting to get back into the exercise routine...it is hard though getting up at 5am to do some exercise before going to work. It will payoff in the end though, right? I should feel better too, right?

Nicole is running the half marathon this Sunday...here is a link: Tulsa Route 66 Marathon

Anyhoo...my life is pretty boring on the details. When I think of something better to write, I will. Until then...upward and onward.

-r

misc

Sitting here in the good ol' Days Inn in Nevada, MO...listening to my Pandora station called Project 86. If you haven't checked out Pandora...you have to...imperative. I also found about another site like it called last.fm, but I haven't done anything with it yet. Just caught the link on another guy's blog.

Nevada, MO...bet you are wondering why I am here in this booming metropolis. Home of Cotty College...an all girls college. That's not why I am here. :) I am here installing another Cisco Unified Communications Express system for a client that has a branch office here. Ate at a place tonight called Cherry Street Cafe. Pretty good food...I had some kind of Tortellini that had some basil sauce with walnuts and such. It was good. It was in a building that used to be part of a historical hotel. Nice. It seems that the town closes around 7-7:30 though...weird. There were a couple of places that were open, but not much. We drove around and checked out some cool old houses after dinner then came back to the hotel...by about 8:30pm! :)

I have been traveling around a lot lately...Memphis, Shreveport, Dallas...it's been fun. For the near future though, it seems that I will be staying in town. Still installing the systems, but not out of town like recently. I like to travel and see places, but I do miss the family when I am gone. It is weird going to bed at night not having kisses from the kids and wife...

Well...I have some reading to do. Going to close down and take care of that before I get some rest. I really am going to try and keep this updated on a more timely basis. Riiiiiggghhhht.

-r

blog-o-rama

Here I am sitting in my favorite coffee house...studying. :(

I just wanted everyone to know that it is a beautiful day outside...and I am studying. Bleh!

At least I had some good coffee!

-r

checking in

I thought earlier this evening...hmmm...maybe I will have time to blog tonight, the wife is away doing the bunco thing.

Then I catch up on a few issues from work. Then...let's blog. First, I haven't checked the blogs I used to read in a while...think I will do that.

Now, I am here...and I need to go to bed. I'm tired. So much for blogging. I will leave this tidbit though:

Check out this book. I am actually listening to it, but it is good stuff so far.

The Slumber of Christianity by Ted Dekker

Thanks for listening...reading. Whatever.

-r

life

Sorry no posting lately...life has been going on and not in the virtual world here. Just life.

This past week I have had two friends lose a parent to cancer. Of course, it brings up more memories of my mother dying of cancer in 2005. Cancer sucks.

You know everytime I think of blogging and what I am going to blog about, I really don't have the time to do so. It is aggravating at times, and then I also think...priorities. What are my priorities? Am I spending time on the things I need to? Case in point...I made sure I spent some time in the Word this morning before I logged onto my computer. If I don't do that first, I end up spending too much time on the computer and then I cannot open my Bible and opening my Bible and studying or just reading is more important in the scheme of things than getting on my computer to browse or post to the blog or whatever. OK, I am rambling. :)

Anyway, I read Romans 8:28-39 today and was doing a little study on it. Comforting passage of scripture. When things are just not going well...you are suffering through things, like a death of someone or sickness or whatever, this is a passage to check into. God has good things planned for us, sometimes it is just hard to remember that in the midst of things. Another good scripture is just before that one in Romans 8:18. It is all perspective.

Gotta run...

thankfulness

Thank you God for Your unfailing love...

I love you too!

-r

stuff

OK...so it has been a while. I have been busy...very busy.

I had all of these thoughts running through my head that I wanted to post. I was in the shower thinking about things. Then I logged in after my shower and start perusing other people's sites...I am not sure if I remember what I was going to blog about. :)

I know one thing was this:

I was cleaning the shower before I took one. It was dirty. Very dirty. I had to scrub hard. It got me to thinking about spiritual applications. How we always try to clean up our lives...we can work hard at it, not even really noticing that we are working on it ourselves. The thing is...we don't have to. Now, don't leave just yet. I am not saying we don't need to change, that is what repentance is all about. We make a 180 degree turn. We change. For Christ. And He is the one that does the cleaning. We can't. He doesn't even have to scrub...that's power man. It also reminds me of the part in "Voyage of the Dawn Treader" by C.S. Lewis, where Eustace had turned into a dragon because he was so beastly, but then he changes...and that causes him to want to change. Make since? :) In comes Aslan. Takes him to peel off the dragon scales to return to his 'boy' self again. He finds something like a zipper and quickly unzips it, only to find that as he steps out, he is still a dragon. Bummer that. So he tries again...same thing. Several times until Aslan says that He needs to do it and tells Eustace to turn around. With a nice big motion of His paw, he digs the claws in and rips the scales off of Eustace. It hurts, but not for long as the scales just come apart. There is Eustace in what looks like new skin...Aslan lets him take a bath in the coolest water...it stings right at first, but then is the most refreshing bath he ever has. Good stuff....Jesus does the work, it may hurt, but not for long...as everything is as new. But at this point, you have a responsibility. Turn your life around. Do not conform to this world...not that hard really. Your priorities, your focus changes. You focus on Christ. As much as you can.

Another thing I was going to write about was something similar. I shaved tonight...the entire face. Didn't leave the goatee...I shaved my whole face. Feels weird...but it is like getting a fresh start. It's nice. I could write more, but I am tired. So I will leave it at that.

Until next time...

route 66

OK...first day of vacation this week. Boys are watching Elmo's World on Sesame Street and Mommy is at work getting her classroom ready for this year. So, the boys and I will be hanging out today. I think we are going to Sam's and run around a little bit. Just boys stuff...

I wanted to share these pics since I took them, just haven't had the chance. I took them on the way back from Edmond, OK one night on our way back home from the in-laws. There is history here. First is the Round Barn in Arcadia. Then just outside of Arcadia is a sign I took a picture of...it basically says it was the east boundary of the land run of 1889 in Oklahoma. History...cool stuff.

I'm off to get the boys ready for the day with Daddy!

-R

era

It was the end of an era this evening...ok, only about 4 to 5 years, but still.
We had to cut this tree:

Down to this:

Sad...but it was growing out of control...the roots were starting to go down the side of the house into the backyard. Not good.

So farewell ol' tree...your branches won't keep me up at night because the wind is blowing them up against the guttering. :)