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My Girl!

26 years ago today I took Carol Ann Morarie bowling. We then attended a Valentine party hosted by our Youth Group. The beginnings of an amazing relationship. A few weeks back I was told by someone that I talk about my wife a lot. I replied, "I talk about her tons because I love her tons!" No sentiments here however. I already took care of that. I bought Carol Ann a fancy new pillow for Valentines and made it my card. I wrote all over the thing. She can cover it up with the pillow case, but always have my words close by.

So, because Carol Ann digs a good laugh, I thought I would do the iPod shuffle game to answer the following questions about our relationship. This is how it works. I have come up 26 questions/statements. I type them out, then hit shuffle to get my answer. The key is not to cheat, and just go with the song chosen. Here we go:

1. What do I usually say after kissing Carol Ann?  Love Break Me (Starfield)
2. What does Carol Ann say after kissing me? Laden with Guilt (Caedmon's Call)
3. What song best describes our first 23+ years of marriage? As Long As You Follow (Fleetwood Mac)
4. When we fight, what is the usual reason? Head Games (Foreigner)
5. How do we make up after a fight? Praise Song (Third Day)
6. What is our communication style? Volcano (Damien Rice)
7. What emotion does Carol Ann most often evoke in me? Come Let Us Worship (Chris Tomlin)
8. What emotion do I most often evoke in Carol Ann? Your Racist Friend (They Might Be Giants)
9. What is my code phrase for Carol Ann's best feature? Hollywood (Los Lonely Boys)
10. What is Carol Ann's code phrase for my best feature? Jack and Diane (John Mellancamp)
11. What is our secret to a strong marriage? Two Hearts (The Jayhawks)
12. Carol Ann describes me as her super... I'm A Sucker for a Kind Word (Copeland)
13. I call Carol Ann my little... Crooked Teeth (Death Cab for Cutie)
14. Our most romantic conversations always start with the word(s)... After You've Gone (Harry Connick Jr.)
15. What is the most challenging aspect of our relationship? All This Time (Sting)
16. Carol Ann ends each day by telling me that she loves me and wishes me... Willie the Wimp (Stevie Ray Vaughan)
17. Each night I tell Carol Ann to sleep tight and wish her... The Heart of Life (John Mayer)
18. Carol Ann knows I'm mad when I wont talk about... Every Little Thing (Hawk Nelson)
19. I know Carol Ann is mad when she won't talk about... Ole Pigweed (Mark Knopfler)
20. I knew Carol Ann loved me when she sent a letter that said... Whatever happened to PJ Proby? (Van Morrison)
21. When I asked Carol Ann's father for permission to marry his daughter, I promised to always... Take the Long Way Home (Supertramp)
22. When Carol Ann placed my wedding ring, she said it represented... Solution (Hillsong United)
23. When I placed Carol Ann's ring, I said it represented... You Turn Me Around (Aqualung) 
24. To celebrate this day, the Kelly's will... Don't Forget to Remember (Bee Gees)
25. I love my wife. She is... Lilac Sun (Ottmar Liebert)
26. Happy Valentine's Day Carol Ann, I ... Bling You! (The Killers)

What Kids Want for Christmas

This year children are asking Santa to give mom and dad a job.

As a staff at Northern Hills, instead of giving each other a Christmas gift, we pool our funds and buy Christmas gifts for some children in the Brighton Head Start program. This year we bought gifts for 44 children. No one asked for a job for their parents, but the requests were very interesting.

On Tuesday the entire staff headed to Walmart on a mission to fulfill the wishes of several 4 year old children. Each staff person was given 2-3 cards with the child's first name and the desired gift. It is interesting what some children want. I had the opportunity to buy gifts for two little boys. One wanted Spider-Man. That was not too tough, in fact I found a Spider-Man on a motorcycle. My second little guy asked for something that was much harder to find, Spike the Dinosaur. I did not even know what that was. I did not find anything that said Spike the Dinosaur. (I have since seen Spike). I did find a dinosaur that looked fierce, made noise and moved. It had spikes too, so I hope that it is a nice gift.

Here are some of the other things the kids asked for in their own words:

• Dragon ship with people in it
• A king (Not sure why a 4 year old wants a king, but...)
• A mop and broom (Does this little girl know how to have fun or what?)
• Any and everything Hannah Montana (I am more of a Joe Montana kind of guy)
• Train track
• Batman
• Baby Alive
• Robot
• Tea Part Set
• Barbie
• Horses or Movies of Horses (Flicka Flick Fan For Sure)
• The Hulk
• Big Bumble Bee
• Princess Crown
• A motorcycle (this kid got a 4 pack!)
• Transformer
• Braatz Doll (Not sure what this is)
• Big Car
• Dress Up

One Day... I'm in the Band!

How cool will this day be? People like me -  with no real musical talent, given an instrument by God. Apparently I will be able to sing and play for His glory. Wow! Of course this may freak out my non-instrumental friends.

Revelation 15:1-4 (NIV)

I saw in heaven another great and marvelous sign: seven angels with the seven last plagues—last, because with them God's wrath is completed. And I saw what looked like a sea of glass mixed with fire and, standing beside the sea, those who had been victorious over the beast and his image and over the number of his name. They held harps given them by God and sang the song of Moses the servant of God and the song of the Lamb:

   "Great and marvelous are your deeds,
      Lord God Almighty.
   Just and true are your ways,
      King of the ages.
  Who will not fear you, O Lord,
      and bring glory to your name?
   For you alone are holy.
   All nations will come
      and worship before you,
   for your righteous acts have been revealed."

Got $5?

The organization Soles4Souls is in the middle of their 50,000 pair in 50 days challenge. You and your $5 can help. The mission of Soles4Souls is to impact as many lives as possible with the gift of shoes. There are approximately 300 million people in the world who do not own shoes and are forced to walk in what are sometimes dangerous conditions.

I love the 50,000 pair of shoes in 50 days idea in small part because I really dig shoes... but mostly, because it is simple, practical, something almost everyone can help with, and it meets a real need. Check out the history of Soles4Souls, buy two pair of shoes for $5, and spread the word.

Question #27: Are you Growing in Your Giving?

Did you give more this year than last year?

Carol Ann and I will make our annual Christmas list on Monday. I have convinced her that a budget, Excel sheet, and strategic plan really do put the Merry in Merry Christmas. As we put the list together, we will compare it with last year's list. I guess this keeps us from missing anyone, and helps us stay equitable - whatever that means this time of year. Anyway...

This is also the time of year for us to look back and see how we have done in our giving over the last 12 months. For us, the giving question is no longer centered around the percentage of our income given away. Instead, we want to see evidence that we have given away more of our income and stuff this year than the previous year.

As a principle, there is certainly nothing wrong with giving a tithe (10 percent), of your income to the Church where you attend regularly. In fact, based on current statistics that say most Jesus followers give 2%-4%, that would be a big improvement. However, the "required" Old Testament tithe really equaled around 25% of a person's income. It seems to me that 10% is the minimum; not the "I am the greatest giver in the world because I tithe" maximum.

As you think this through, remember:

• It all belongs to God.
• We are entrusted to manage well what we have been given.
• What is stored in Heaven will last forever.

Ask:

• Am I growing in my giving?
• Do I give cheerfully?
• Do I see 10% as the maximum or the minimum?
• Do I give sacrificially?
• What does my checkbook say about my priorities?

Questions 1-26

Kill Pride - The Sword of Faith

Week 4 of our Kill Pride series at NH - Killing Religion with the Sword of Faith.

Created by Wordle

Time for a Political Chill Pill

In the last week since Barack Obama was elected President I have heard tales of doomsday and utopia.

On the doomsday side of the ledger I have heard that Obama will take my guns and raise my taxes and promote abortions. I have heard that he is proof of evil reigning in our land and he may even be the Anti-Christ! Some say he will sell the United States out to our enemies. I have been told that those who do not pay any income tax will not get a refund and if you make too much money... then you will be forced to be patriotic by sharing what you have. Obama will take the United States into the ditch morally and culturally by appointing liberal judges and promoting lifestyles that are an abomination to God.

Some even say that if the President Elect gets his way, he will bring conservative radio to an end and eliminate the coal industry all together. And... the list goes on.

Those on the utopia side of things think much different. I read where one Obama supporter said that it would be the first time in her life that she would be able to wake up and not worry about high gas prices, war in the world, or not being able to get a quality education. Wow! Also, I have heard that Obama will bring about bipartisanship, and end to global warming and eliminate crime. He will also restore the credibility of the United States in the world and end the war in Iraq. 

Some even say that Obama will provide affordable and effective health-care for every person who calls the USA home. And... the list goes on.

Everyone relax! No matter if you were elated or depressed about the election - the biggest thing in life has not changed. Jesus is still the answer.

God was not surprised on November 4.

To those who are speaking doomsday, take a really deep breath, stay away from caffeine and certain WEB sites, and relax. God is still in control. No persons ideology or policies are more powerful that God. Pray for our government and especially the President Elect. The take all of that pent up energy and use it to get to know Jesus. If you already follow Jesus, then use that emotion and drive to introduce others to Jesus through word and deed.

To my friends who are on cloud nine at the outcome of this historic moment... celebrate. Then please take in oxygen until that dizzy euphoric feeling subsides. Remember that no man is the savior. Ask yourself who you are really trusting. This world will always have trouble. Take that strong desire you have for bringing change and seeing justice and then point people to the ultimate transformer and provider of justice - Jesus.

The troubles of this world that we elect people to fix, always relate back to sin. We have tried to deal with sin through policy, medication, behavioral modification, education, embracing it, and ignoring it. None of it has ever worked or will ever work. The only answer is Jesus. Trust in Him!

The Mark of a Real Man?

Who knew it was that simple to be a real man. Yikes!

Kill Pride - The Sword of Unity

Here is last week's message as we trek through Philippians. Part 2 in our Kill Pride series - The Sword of Unity.

Created by Wordle

Good Night and Good Luck

I get a kick out of watching this and this. I tend to agree with one much more than the other, but I find value in both. I am pretty sure the two host hate each other.

Anyway... this weekend SNL did a Countdown skit that was priceless. Enjoy!

Denver Marathon Recap

My official time for the 2008 Denver Marathon was 4:02:55. I am a tick disappointed as I was shooting to break 4 hours, but overall the race went well. As I was timing my run on my nifty GPS watch, I came in at 3:59:16, but the official time is what really matters. So... the next time I run I need to be at least 3 minutes faster!

Here are my splits: Mile (1) 9:19, (2) 8:35, (3) 8:33, (4) 8:49, (5) 8:24, (6) 8:34, (7) 8:40, (8) 8:39, (9) 8:50, (10) 9:00, (11) 8:18, (12) 8:35, (13) 8:50, (14) 9:00, (15) 8:44, (16) 8:34, (17) 9:16, (18) 8:54, (19) 9:09, (20) 9:21, (21) 9:43, (22) 9:43, (23) 10:01, (24) 10:29, (25) 10:39, (26) 10:16 (.23) 2:25

Prior to the race I made a last trek to the restroom. That put me at the back of the field for the start of the race and the first three miles were like running through a human traffic jam. I felt good up to the 22 mile mark and was right on pace for @ 3:55:00. However, it was at mile 22 that I started to feel really fatigued. I slowed down a bit, thinking I could regain some energy, but the opposite seemed to happen. My body enjoyed the slower pace and requested that I run even slower. Silly body, I still had 5 miles to go!

At that point I was pretty whooped and I was just trying to hang on. My right quad felt like it was cramping a bit so I started throwing down a ton of fluids (more than normal), to try to prevent this and it made me a bit nauseous. Looking at my watch, I determined that I needed to run the lat 2.2 miles under 24 minutes to break 4 hours, so that is what I pushed towards.

After I finished the race I walked around a bit and grabbed some water. My body was pretty much done, but my leg never did cramp. However, I was pretty sure I needed to rid myself of all the Gatorade I drank over the last 4 miles. I found a secluded bush, hurled for the first time in probably 10 years, then felt much better.

Right after the race I had no desire to run another marathon... EVER! However, I feel good today (legs are a bit sore) and another marathon sounds like a good challenge. May take my best persuasion skills to get my wife on board with this.

The best that I can tell, I lost about 8 lbs during the race. But not to worry, here is all that I ate/drank later that day.

• 1 bag of peeled apples
• Starbucks Venti Double Shot
• Starbucks Venti Coffee Frappucinno
• 2 big glasses of Chocolate Milk
• 1 Bowl of Frosted Mini-Wheats
• 1 Chipotle Burrito w/ chips and guacamole
• 1 large Iced Tea
• Chocolate Shake
• Mint Chip Shake
• 1 Banana
• @ 1/2 gallon of water

Glad I set this goal. I think that I am as healthy as have been in a long time. What is next? Not exactly sure, but I do want to hit the 1000 mile mark for the year, which I should hit if I run consistently over the next 10 weeks, and next May I would like to run the Bolder Boulder under my age - 43:00.

• This Week: 26.2 miles
• This Month: 91.4 miles
• This Year: 898.5 miles
• Lifetime: 5003.9 miles

Today's Run 10.14.08

The taper continues. Only two more runs before the marathon.

Today's Run: Easy - 3 miles in 24:36 (8:12 pace)

• This Week: 3 miles
• This Month: 56.2 miles
• This year: 863.3 miles
• Lifetime: 4968.7 miles