Thursday, August 28, 2008
Follow Us on Twitter
Tomorrow morning at 6:00 a.m. the three of us are flying to Chicago for a long weekend. We don't really have anything planned except to go to the zoo on Saturday morning. I won't be taking my computer but you can follow all of our goings on here with Twitter. I will be updating throughout our trip there and you can see if here on my blog. Hope everyone has a good weekend.
Tuesday, August 26, 2008
Little Things Make a Huge Difference
Many of you that read this blog also read Allison’s blog. A few days ago she had a post about our pastor, Mark Marshall, and the message from Sunday. I have the same feelings that she does about the sermon, it was great, but they come from a different point of view. That point of view is a man’s point of view. Now that is not to say that mine is better or worse, it is just different and I think Mark was really trying to hammer home the importance of men and their roles in church, at home, and everywhere else they show up in this world.
Yesterday Mark had a great post on his blog as a follow-up on his message from Sunday. As I was reading his post I noticed that he reads the blog of the CEO from Thomas Nelson Publishing, Michael Hyatt. I clicked on the link and found a fascinating post discussing a new book about Barack Obama’s faith. On his blog is a listing of his twitter account and on there was something about his unhappiness regarding his stay at the Hyatt Regency Hotel over the weekend. Intrigued I went back to his blog today and is was not just about a terrible stay at a hotel, but it was about how every decision we make, large or small, can make a very large impact on things around us.
This reminded me of Mark’s message, Allison’s blog post, and Mark’s blog post. So with a not-so-slight urging of God I have really been thinking about the decisions I make and how they relate to various things in my life such as Cooper, Allison, my job, etc. It has also made me even more aware of the fact that Cooper is a little sponge.
This has never been more evident than over the last few days and weeks. Cooper will now repeat anything you ask him to or anything you say and don’t ask him to repeat. For instance, the other day we were running behind schedule to leave the house and I realized I forgot to grab Cooper’s shoes. While holding Cooper, I said very quietly and under my breath “crap.” For the next 15 seconds Cooper said “trap” over and over again. He hasn’t said it since then, but this is a simple yet powerful reminder and indication of how big of an influence we are on people, especially young people.
Thinking back on Mark’s message, I wonder what kind of an influence I am on people. Do I reflect Christ in the things that I do and say? Do people look at me and think, “He’s a Christian?” This lesson could not come at a better time for me. Especially because of the little one that I am trying to mold into a strong Christian man that is willing to step out and lead. If any of you see me and think, “I don’t think that’s the way a man trying to be a Christian leader should act” please let me know. I always welcome people to hold me accountable when it comes to what I say I believe and stand for.
Yesterday Mark had a great post on his blog as a follow-up on his message from Sunday. As I was reading his post I noticed that he reads the blog of the CEO from Thomas Nelson Publishing, Michael Hyatt. I clicked on the link and found a fascinating post discussing a new book about Barack Obama’s faith. On his blog is a listing of his twitter account and on there was something about his unhappiness regarding his stay at the Hyatt Regency Hotel over the weekend. Intrigued I went back to his blog today and is was not just about a terrible stay at a hotel, but it was about how every decision we make, large or small, can make a very large impact on things around us.
This reminded me of Mark’s message, Allison’s blog post, and Mark’s blog post. So with a not-so-slight urging of God I have really been thinking about the decisions I make and how they relate to various things in my life such as Cooper, Allison, my job, etc. It has also made me even more aware of the fact that Cooper is a little sponge.
This has never been more evident than over the last few days and weeks. Cooper will now repeat anything you ask him to or anything you say and don’t ask him to repeat. For instance, the other day we were running behind schedule to leave the house and I realized I forgot to grab Cooper’s shoes. While holding Cooper, I said very quietly and under my breath “crap.” For the next 15 seconds Cooper said “trap” over and over again. He hasn’t said it since then, but this is a simple yet powerful reminder and indication of how big of an influence we are on people, especially young people.
Thinking back on Mark’s message, I wonder what kind of an influence I am on people. Do I reflect Christ in the things that I do and say? Do people look at me and think, “He’s a Christian?” This lesson could not come at a better time for me. Especially because of the little one that I am trying to mold into a strong Christian man that is willing to step out and lead. If any of you see me and think, “I don’t think that’s the way a man trying to be a Christian leader should act” please let me know. I always welcome people to hold me accountable when it comes to what I say I believe and stand for.
Saturday, August 23, 2008
Latest Conversation With Cooper
Today Allison and I wanted to go for a run and push Cooper in his stroller.
Me: Cooper you want to go running?
Cooper: No
15 minutes later
Alli: Cooper, you want to go for a run?
C: No...said no.
As if to say, didn't you hear me the first time?
Until next time...
Me: Cooper you want to go running?
Cooper: No
15 minutes later
Alli: Cooper, you want to go for a run?
C: No...said no.
As if to say, didn't you hear me the first time?
Until next time...
Monday, August 18, 2008
A Call to Teach
Sometimes God’s calling is impossible to ignore.
Not long after we began going to Clearview I was approached about helping with the “Count Me In” class. At the time I was still trying to pass the CPA exam and I just did not feel that it was the right time to commit to helping with a class. Over the past 6 months I have been approached about helping with children, middle school, and high school. For various reasons I chose not to commit to these areas, although feeling led to teach and/or help in some way or some area. About a month ago I was approached about leading a young adult Sunday school class. After prayer and discussions with Allison, we decided that I would agree to help lead the class. This is a great situation for us. I am going to be able to help lead a class, therefore answering the call that I feel God has for me and Allison and I can continue to be in Sunday school together, one of the main reasons I did not agree to help with the other opportunities that I had. Please pray for me, my co-leader, and our Sunday school class as we go through this transition.
Not long after we began going to Clearview I was approached about helping with the “Count Me In” class. At the time I was still trying to pass the CPA exam and I just did not feel that it was the right time to commit to helping with a class. Over the past 6 months I have been approached about helping with children, middle school, and high school. For various reasons I chose not to commit to these areas, although feeling led to teach and/or help in some way or some area. About a month ago I was approached about leading a young adult Sunday school class. After prayer and discussions with Allison, we decided that I would agree to help lead the class. This is a great situation for us. I am going to be able to help lead a class, therefore answering the call that I feel God has for me and Allison and I can continue to be in Sunday school together, one of the main reasons I did not agree to help with the other opportunities that I had. Please pray for me, my co-leader, and our Sunday school class as we go through this transition.
Friday, August 15, 2008
Bejing 2008
This has been a great week of the Olympic games. I really enjoy watching the games, and I have especially enjoyed watching Michael Phelps win 7 gold medals. The majority of Olympic athletes do not even make it to the final of their event and this guy has won 7 gold medals this year and 13 total for his career. Amazing!
Thursday, August 14, 2008
Political Post
It is not arguing one way of the other, (most of you know my stance) I just found this video to be hilarious. This blog is by a guy who wrote two Bible studies that we have done in our Sunday school class. Technically it is not a "political post", but maybe I will get into that more as we get closer to the election.
Thursday, August 7, 2008
Name Association
Tonight after dinner we were talking to Amy, my cousin, and getting Cooper to identify things, and say whatever random things we thought of. Cooper heard a mower outside and thought it was an airplane. I told him that it was a mower like uncle Jared has. He started saying "Uncle Jared, Uncle Jared," so we asked "Who lives with uncle Jared?"
C: "Uncle Jared."
Us: "No Cooper, who is uncle Jared married to?" Obviously 20 month olds know what marriage is, right?
C: "Uncle Jared."
U: "Cooper, Jared and..."
C: "BeBe!" We thought that was kinda cool so we asked more.
U: "Neecie and..."
C: "Tony!"
U: "Mammy and..."
C: "Pappy!"
U: "Emily and..."
C: "Tony!" We told him that was sort of right, since she is his kid and she lives with him. Anyway, it was a really fun game and we never would have guessed that Cooper could associate all those people with one another.
C: "Uncle Jared."
Us: "No Cooper, who is uncle Jared married to?" Obviously 20 month olds know what marriage is, right?
C: "Uncle Jared."
U: "Cooper, Jared and..."
C: "BeBe!" We thought that was kinda cool so we asked more.
U: "Neecie and..."
C: "Tony!"
U: "Mammy and..."
C: "Pappy!"
U: "Emily and..."
C: "Tony!" We told him that was sort of right, since she is his kid and she lives with him. Anyway, it was a really fun game and we never would have guessed that Cooper could associate all those people with one another.
Saturday, August 2, 2008
SEC Football
Once again, the SEC appears to be ready to dominate the college football scene. I know it is a preseason poll, but the coaches poll is out and there are 3 SEC teams in the top 6, and 5 in the top 25. We are only 26 days from the first Thursday night games, and 30 days from FOOTBALL TIME IN TENNESSEE!
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