Entries Tagged 'Uncategorized' ↓

This past weekend I spent some time with my family at b-e-a-utiful Lake Tahoe. It was a trip. Not only was the weekend enjoyable, and filled with swimming, floating and biking… it was also chalked full of quality family time. It amazes me how well we all get along, despite or in spite of the differences. It is all about family, and mine is a dang fun one! Here is a pick of me and the moms biking it up to Squaw Valley!

Well, I’m back in OKC and getting swamped at work… we switched operating platforms before I left and it seems all is were I left it (which is not a good thing).  So today will be spent trouble shooting and trying to figure out all the questions everyone is having (it seems some in the office are laggards and stalwarts, which means they aren’t embracing the system fully and in fact are adamantly rejecting it). Great fun.

I’ll have updates on the trip and pictures up soon… it was an unbelievable time and I’m still chewing on what I learned (am learning).

David Ford is good. Nate Friend, this one is [again] for you!

Another article of mine was published on JM click link below to read (it is also found on my blog, entitled television):

The Apathy Generator

If the last word is the cross, the empty cross, the cross that liberates us from sin, reconciles us to God, and saves us from our sinful desires. Then the first word, or the path to the cross must be a posture of love. Jesus’ life, this incarnation of love, was a model of “how-to”. How-to treat the marginalized, the pride-filled, the self-righteous and the sinner… We too soon preach Christ crucified overshadowing the birth and life of our Saviour, we focus on the end without regard to the means.

Hear what I am not saying. I am not saying we should abandon preaching the crucifixion and resurrection of Jesus.

But I am saying that in overshadowing the life of Jesus with the crucifixion we miss the forest for the trees…what I mean is that in focusing only on His death, we miss the model of His life - a prophetic announcement, a miraculous birth, an incarnational life, a sacrificial death, a momentous resurrection and His supernatural ascension. So, Yes, He died for our sins, so that we may be made whole (holy). Yes, His sacrifice atoned for our transgressions. Yes, His propitiation made a way for reconciliation. I am not denying His act of atonement. I am saying His act of atonement was driven out of love for His Father, which manifested itself in His love for his neighbor, friends and enemies alike (which is still The Greatest Commandment).

The Gospel Message than is found, is acted out, is incarnated… not in repeating a prayer but in feeding the poor, seeking justice, being a peacemaker, loving God, loving the marginalized, loving the sinner, and loving the righteous alike. This Gospel message is inerrant and found inherently in the Scriptures, prophesied in the Torah, and eye witnessed in the Gospels. The last word is an empty cross and the next word starts anew in our hearts with a response of love.

This morning I awoke at 5:30 in anticipation of running a 10k portion (I was one of 5 people on a Young Life relay team) of the Memorial Marathon held in Oklahoma City. The marathon is in memory of the lives that were lost in the Oklahoma City bombing in April of 1995, and many were running in honor of their friends and family that were killed. It was a time to remember and a time to celebrate, and that attitude was evident from the beginning. Many were out on the streets of Oklahoma City to cheer on the runners and the volunteers were phenomenal. At the 3 aid stations I passed the excitement and energy of the volunteers were contagious as they passed out gatorade, water, pretzels and other snacks with a encouraging air. My portion of our relay was the first leg, a total of 10 kilometers, which is about 6.2 miles… not a number I am accustomed to running, but it was a good jaunt, I didn’t walk and finished in 50 minutes… which is not bad considering I haven’t run more than 3 miles in a long, long time.

Happy St. Patty’s Day!!!

This weekend I am flying to LA.  It is going to be a mix of business, family, and fun.  The reason for the trip is business, I will be assisting one of my partners present a 5-hour program at an Insurance Skills Conference.  Which means the company is picking up the tab!  I am flying out on Friday, early enough to hopefully get some surfing in with some friends in SD.  And then dinner at my brother’s house in Romoland (S of LA), a lot of play time with my niece and nephew…  Saturday is the conference (ALL DAY) and then hopefully I’ll hit up the late showing of Rambo with my bro (Sean).  Sunday is for family and hopefully a little relax time in SoCal.  Flight leaves at 6:45pm Sunday and arrives in OKC at 11:32pm at which point I will be picked up by the magnanimous Katie D.  What a weekend!  Work on Monday morning at 8:30!!

Sometimes for surfing I’ll do anything.

smörgåsbord: 1. a buffet offering a variety of hot and cold meats, salads, and hors d’oeuvres.
2. figurative; a wide range of something; a variety.
Origin: swedish from smörgås ‘(slice of) bread and butter’ + bord ‘table’

This week has been a buffet of nonstop, with a dessert bar of being run over by a bus. We had client in from California and after an intense 2 day session, we parted ways and I went home to sleep. I went to bed on Tuesday and Wednesday at around 7:30pm… more due to a sick bug that has been going around then exhaustion from work… So needless to say Wednesday and Thursday I did not feel top notch. Friday was a good day and today I feel pleasant, but not yet 100%.

In other news… I got a new vehicle, a 2007 Avalanche LS edition, which I think is really cool!! It marks the first time I own (loose interpretation) a vehicle made after 1994 (the conceiver… RIP).

I added a few things to it, that will hopefully help my gas economy, a K&N filter, dual exhaust, I purchased Z71 wheels which are 2″ bigger than the ones one it before and added a little more aggressive tires. I think the additions make the vehicle look more aggressive without spending the money to buy a LTZ edition (an LTZ edition is the top of the line Avalanche… about $10K-15K more than I spent). Gonna give the ol’ truck to my pops for use as a farm truck… Its something he has needed for a while and ol’ blue will love it up on the farm.

trying out this new plugin… should allow me to post some video blogs…. exclusively from Revver.

Here is a shot from a underwater camera in Vallecito Reservoir in SW Colorado!