It's a tremendous gift

Our Daily Bread
What a gift God gave us in his son! We have a choice of accepting that gift or not. What will you choose?

Movie Monday
I watched the movie Sing on DVD the other night. It was an interesting 1980s movie! The music was classic 1980s as well. It was fun

Other Stuff
The weather is supposed to be nice again today in Orlando. It will be hard to stay inside! There are some really good sessions today and a customer council meeting this evening.

The opening party last night was ok. The most interesting part was a fortune teller that was horribly accurate! It was so weird! I am thinking about some of the things she said.

Hang in tfhere my friends! I will be upbeat and steady. That is what i do...

Don't hate...

I arrived in Orlando about 9:15 this morning. It was sunny and 55 degrees! Woohooo! It is about 72 degrees and sunny this afternoon. I have my first session in a few minutes but would rather be outside! I am looking forward to the rest of the day.

Our Daily Bread
I didn't get much out of the devotional today though I guess I should think about being a Christian example to all children I encounter. I will think and pray about that.

Lord little ears hear the thingsI say even though I am not a parent!

Why do we obey?

Our Daily Bread
I read something last week that we should not expect any special recognition when we do the work of our Lord.  Why?  Because the honor of serving God surpasses any earthly recognition!  Wow!  So many times we want to be recognized in this world and the next for doing what we are supposed to do.

I asked myself about my motivation.  I consider myself an intrinsically motivated type of person.  Being honest with myself, I also like the recognition for being a good person, for being a reasonable semblance of a Christian and someone who cares for others.  Is that so wrong?  If I need this recognition, am I really doing the things I do for the right reasons?  Am I doing these things because I know if is the right thing?  Am I doing these things because I am required to?

Why is this important?  ;-)  I know I can drone on about seemingly meaningless topics at times!  hehehe  It is important because if we do things for the wrong reasons, even very good things, we can start to resent the recipients if we don't get what we think we deserve in return!  Wow!  Please take a look at the things you do and the reasons you do them.  I know I will take a closer look.

Lord, help me obey you out of my love for you, not out of duty.  I want to serve others as a tribute to you.  Not a tribute to me!

Simply Saturday
I am having a good weekend after a very busy week!  I am feeling better since starting my antibiotics the other day.  I am very happy about that!  I spent last evening with a close friend and his family.  I am packing for my trip today, then spending the afternoon and evening with my close friend again.  I will miss seeing him this week when I am out of town.

I will have some special entries next week during my Orlando trip.  I will try to write every day and include some pictures.  I am staying at the Yacht and Beach Club Disney resort.  It should be a great conference.  I am also looking for a few days of "me" time at the end of the week.  I need to get charged up so I can deal with my surgery on Feb 8.  I have been through this surgery before in my other eye.  I will relax and rest and take it easy during my recovery.  I am not very good at any of those things!  hehehe

I want you to know how wonderful life is if you haven't taken the time to look around lately.  It is a wonderful life as long as you have God in your life.  There may be trials and temptations.  That is normal for any life.  God never gives us more than we can bear.  He will always give us the strength we need to survive and conquer if we continue to trust and serve him.  As I said once in this blog "A life well lived is great.  A life well loved is best!"

Hang in there, my friends!  I will be upbeat and steady.  That is what I do...

Crazy week, too!

Sorry I haven't written much this week.  The past ten days have been brutal.  I had the cold/flu with a fever, but couldn't take off work.  I worked about 70 hours this week performing the upgrade and the post-upgrade support.  On the bright side, I got a lot out of my D2 class this week.  I also spent time with a special friend going through a tough time.

I fly to Orlando on Sunday for a work conference.  I am staying a few extra days to park hop.  I am excited about going to the Harry Potter section at Universal!  Woohoooo!

Please remember me in your prayers.  I will have the serious eye surgery on my left eye on February 8.  God has promised healing.  There are some things I need to do for that to happen.  Thank God for his grace and mercy.  I also thank God for my friends and family who are supporting me through this opportunity for faith.

Our Daily Bread
God can use anything to shake up our lives.  The most dramatic is an earthquake!  I felt some tremors once, but I have never been through a quake.  The tremors are scary enough!

It is through these earthquakes, or should I call them lifequakes, that we learn to do one of two things: trust God more deeply than ever or dive into self-pity and fear.  What do you choose?

Life is too short and too precious for self-pity and fear.  Choose faith, no matter how difficult the road or how hopeless it seems.  God is there.  He cares.

Abba, thank you for caring and loving me (and everyone else too!).  

Crazy weekend...

What a crazy weekend!  I worked my butt off!  After working all Friday night, I went back to the office at 12:45 Saturday afternoon.  I didn't leave the office again until 8:45 Sunday night!  Yikes!  I worked about 29 out of those 32 hours trying to make my big project successful.  After many issues, we finally got it working the way we wanted.  Woohoooo!  It was worth the effort.  This is one big "DONE!" I can rest on.  Whew!  I want to thank God for the strength to make it through this weekend.  I was sick and tired.

Our Daily Bread
The devotional today is about idols.  I thought it was interesting that they mentioned how the US culture seems to lift up individuals as idols for worship!  The devotional warns us that Christians are not immune to this!

As I was listening to the local contemporary Christian radio station one morning, I was surprised to hear them make a big deal about the TV show American Idol.  Being the shy person I am, I called in to ask them why.  They were very surprised that someone was questioning their coverage of a popular TV show.  I mentioned something similar to what the devotional said "As Christians, should we really be promoting a show that raises up individuals as idols?"  The appreciated my opinion and continued on with their coverage!  Oh well.

In summary, ANYTHING that takes God's rightful place in your life.  For me, different things can creep up as a potential idol at times like my job, my stuff, or finding a relationship.

Lord, I want to put you first in my life.  Like the old song says "Not gonna bow to your idols (Satan)"!  

Movie Monday
As you read above, I had a horribly busy weekend.  No time for movies!  I will relax and take in a movie or two this week.

Other Stuff
I HATED to miss my dinner group last night!  Crap!  I didn't get off work until 8:45.  OH well.  I will see the gang next month.

I downloaded my W2 this morning.  I think I have all of my tax stuff now.  I will try to do my taxes before I leave on my business trip on Sunday.

The basement is almost done!  Woohoooo!  The tile is set and grouted.  The contractor is going to put up the trip and finish the cleanup today.  Woohoooo!  I am well on my way to my dream of a home theater!

Hang in there my friends!  I will be upbeat and steady.  That is what I do...

Each person is a VIP...

Our Daily Bread
I know it is difficult to reach to people that are different than we are.  We try to dress nice for church only to have someone that hasn't taken a bath for a week sit next to us.  Their smell interferes with my expensive cologne!  Just kidding!

It really isn't that difficult to love and accept others if we remember how we want to be treated.  It is that simple. I was fortunate enough to extend a Christian hand of help to a new friend that was down on his luck.  I felt odd because God was telling me to trust this person.  I did.  God has shown me something there.  Being safe, secure, and guarded is not the way live your life.  God takes us outside our comfort zone in order to help us grow.  To help us be more like Jesus.  Wow!

Lord, I want to trust you and follow your leadership in all my ways.  Please help me do that!

Simply (Working) Saturday
Well, my big upgrade project is going well.  We were about 3 hours ahead of schedule when we hit our first big snag.  It took us about 2 hours to figure it out.  We are still a little ahead of schedule, so we will see how things go when we reconvene at 1:00 pm.  Whew!  I am very thankful for God's strength throughout the night.  I am still very sick with the cough and flu and cold crap.  I felt like I was going to pass out at one point last night.  I feel a little better after a few hours sleep this morning.  I hope to finish ahead of schedule so I can go back to bed!  ;-)  Tomorrow will be full of sleep, church and dinner group activities!

My eye is holding up OK during the stress.  Still cloudy and swirly today.

It is COLD here!  I have more degrees than the thermometer is showing this morning!  Yikes!  It is supposed to warm up in the next few days.  I hate to think of the homeless folks that are out in the cold.

Hang in there, my friends.  Stay warm!  I will be upbeat and steady.  That is what I do...

Never did like to vacuum...

Our Daily Bread

Silly joke since the devotional today is about nature abhorring a vacuum!  We are obviously talking about to very different things!

I like the point of this devotional.  If we work hard and have faith enough to remove some sin from our lives, we need to fill it with the love of God and the Holy Spirit.  I read the story of the demon possession from Luke again last week.  It said that if a demon finds a clean house, meaning one that God has cleaned up, that the demon will come back stronger and bring a bunch of his friends!  Yikes!

What do we fill our lives with?  Here is a passage that I love:

Philippians 4:8 (KJV)
 Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things.

That is filler material if I ever read it!

Lord, I want to remove the sin from my life and fill the void with things you told us are right!  

Foodie Friday

I make chicken and boneless port ribs with this simple recipe. I hope you enjoy!

Ingredients

1 pound boneless chicken breast or boneless pork ribs

Poultry/pork seasoning (I use the Penzey's brand)

Your favorite BBQ sauce. ( I use Montgomery Inn BBQ sauce)

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Place chicken or pork in a prepared baking pan (metal or glass). By prepared, I mean spraying it with Pam or something like that to prevent sticking. Sprinkle a small amount of the poultry seasoning on the meat. Cover with aluminum foil. Bake for about 60 minutes. The center of the meat should be at least 165 degrees with a meat thermometer. Uncover. Drain liquids. Cover with the BBQ sauce and bake uncovered for another 10 minutes. Serve with your favorite sides and extra BBQ sauce!

Other stuff

Here are pictures of the new light fixture in my breakfast room and the chandelier that was relocated from the breakfast room to the dining room. I love it!

God moves in such mysterious ways! Can any of us really understand? I can't. ;-p I will do my best to trust and obey. A life that is not ordinary isn't always comfortable, but it is exciting!  I had some time to think this evening on a very slow drive home.  I finally realized that God is answering my prayers.  Praise God!  By "answer", I do not mean to imply that I get everything I ask for.  I get what I need when I need it.  

Hang in there my friends! I will be upbeat and steady. That is what I do...

Love and fear?

Our Daily Bread
I thank God that the Disciple 2 class has helped me understand this concept more than ever. As children of God, we go back and forth debating whether we have a God of Love or a God of Fear. I finally understand now how it needs to be for me.

I fear God for who he is. The ultimate, almighty God of the universe (or universes!). Wow! And God wants to have a personal relationship with me! wow!

I love God because he first loved me. Wow!

As humans, we have several feelings going on when we obey. We obey because we know it is expected of us. We obey because we are afraid of the consequences. We obey because we love the person who set down the rules. We obey because we know it is the best thing for us. It is like the maturation of a human child through the teenage years, then on to the love and obedience of an adult. We understand why we do the things we do. How does God speak to you in your life?

Lord, I want to love and obey you because of who you are and because you first loved me!

Technology Thursday
We enjoyed a new TV at church last night. It was a 32" flat panel with a built in DVD player. Very cool. The remote had the integrated controls for the DVD player. It was pretty easy to use. These units are usually best for bedrooms or media carts where a separate DVD player is not practical! Very cool! They are also coming down in price like all the other flat panel TVs. The downside is you have to buy a new unit if the DVD player goes out! You can't upgrade just the DVD player in these units either. I think it is worth the risk.

New phones are coming out soon on all the major carriers. Very cool. I will be geeking out about those soon.

Intel released some new processors last week. They are faster and cheaper than their predecessors. Very cool!

Other Stuff
My fever broke last night. Whew! I feel better today. I hope to be 100% by this weekend when I have to work most of the time! Whew!

We had a great D2 class last night. Lots of interesting dialogue.

My left eye is a little clearer this morning.

I am making progress in my first goal for 2011. Praise God!

My basement should be done this week. Woohooo! He is going to lay tile today, then grout tomorrow. I am excited! I will add other features like the projector and paint the screen when I get the time and money. Furniture will happen as well. ;-)

Hang in there, my friends! I will be upbeat and steady. That is what I do....

Therefore by the grace of God go I...

Our Daily Bread

The title of today's posting is a saying that I was taught many years ago. It means that it is only by the grace of God that you are not in the same predicament of the person you are saying it about! It could be a homeless person. It could be a criminal. It could be a disgraced public personality. It could happen to you in some circumstances.

Paul warns to not judge the sins of other. We are to take care of our own house and let God work in the lives of others. That doesn't mean that we can't have an "intervention" sometimes if God leads us to do so. I am thankful that I had friends bring things to my attention even though it hurt. I knew that they had the best of intentions and wanted the best for me. They were supportive, not judgmental.

God wants to lead us out of our lives of sin and death into his holy life on this earth and ever after. What better way to live our lives?

Lord, thank you for showing us the way to a fulfilled life in you!

Lifestyle Change Wednesday

I decided to have a better attitude about Wednesdays! I am going to write about how I am changing my lifestyle to accommodate my goals to eat healthier and be at a healthier weight. I will still report the current weight, but will not focus on the negative!

Current weight is: 272.0 (back to where I started)

What I did well this week:

I ate much better several days this week. I am happy with that. I will keep trying to be more consistent with the better eating habits.

What I didn't do well this week:

I had several large meals with lots of carbs that needed lots of insulin. That means weight gain for me. My blood sugar levels have been fine, however, taking more insulin usually means I will gain weight. That is not good. I need to have more balance and fewer carbs.

Other Stuff

I am sick... Blah... My cold has blown up all to heck. I had a fever of 101 last night. I went to bed early after taking some Tylenol PM and NyQuil. I feel a little better this morning, but the coughing is getting to me. I need to go to the office to get some things done. I may come home early to rest if I can. I may miss the D2 class. Blah...

Hang in there my friends. I will be upbeat and steady. That is what I do...

An open book....

Our Daily Bread
I was fortunate to have co-authored a technical book about eight years ago. I know what it is like to struggle with what words to say so that people are clear about the topic and the instructions are easy to follow.

The devotional today talks about this concept except the "book" is our lives. We are authoring the open book of our lives each and every day. Our friends, neighbors and even strangers are reading it as it unfolds. What are they reading? Is your life book one of those trashy books or tabloids we see at the grocery store or does your life book reflect Jesus? I think mine is a horror story at times! Sometimes it is Black Swan material! hehehe Just kidding.

Lord, let the open book of my life reflect your love and peace.

Disciple Two-sday
We had two great chapters this week - The Way and the Kingdom. Read through Luke and make notes about how he writes about the kingdom of God and the way of the Lord (being a child of God). It is amazing!

Other Stuff
My eye is clearing up a little. I will keep plugging along.

Very busy this week at work. Not sure how much time I will have to spend time with friends. I have enjoyed spending time with my special friends the past two weeks. It has meant a lot to me. ;-)

For example, I had lunch with my hero yesterday at a Korean BBQ place. I ate sushi and tofu (and some pad thai for good measure!). My walking buddy and her husband had me over for supper last night. We uploaded the house video to Youtube.com during the course of the evening. It turned out pretty good considering we are amateurs! I hope my buddy sells his house!

My light fixtures are up in the breakfast room and dining room. Woohooo! I will post pictures tomorrow. The basement should be completed by week's end. Double Woohoooo! ;-) I might have a home theater in place in the basement in the next few months. Triple woohoooo!

Life is good. I hope yours is too!

Hang in there, my friends. I will be upbeat and steady. That is what I do...

Thy Word is a lamp unto my feet...

Our Daily Bread

...and a light unto my path... I have sung that song many times in my life. I appreciate the setting that Amy Grant did many years ago!

God is still using the metaphor of a road with me. I guess I might be understanding it a little bit now! hehehe The devotional this morning hit home for a few reasons. First, the Word of God is our headlight during the dark times. I can testify to that as God has spoken to me in so many ways during the Disciple 2 class the past few months. I have had several ups and downs with my health and my relationships. God's Word has comforted and inspired me.

Second, God's Word assures us that the road before us is our best option. Yes, we all have options in our lives. Will we trust God to lead us with the headlights of his Word or will we fumble around in darkness on our own? That is a question that each of us has to answer.

Lastly, trusting in God's Word helps us keep the best attitude in life -- one without bitterness and hate. Have you met someone who constantly rides on the Betty Bitter Bus? hehehe Life is too short to live that way.

Yes, the road before us can be dark. God's Word is a light unto our feet and a light unto our path. Praise God!

Lord, thank you for illumination!

Movie Monday

I didn't make it to the movies this weekend. I had time to watch a Bluray DVD last night -- Bangkok Dangerous. It stars Nicholas Cage.

Cage plays an assassin who plans to end his career after four lucrative jobs in Bangkok. He realizes he has a very dangerous career. He knows it is time to get out. Not everything goes as planned in this action thriller. It is really not a thrilling as it could be, but it has some nice scenes. It is violent, so don't watch it if you are faint of heart. There is also a touching love story in the movie that makes Cage realize there is more to life than killing. I give this movie 1 star.

Other Stuff

My left eye is feeling better today. I can see better out of it. I guess the resting yesterday afternoon and evening helped.

My contractor will be back this morning to get more work done. The electrician is supposed to work on my lights today. Woohooo! The contractor will fix the wall where he removed the closet and prepare the basement floor for the new tile. Very cool. He plans to have it done by the end of the week.

I am off work today. I am looking forward to lunch with my hero and supper with my walking buddy.

Lastly, I want to thank God today for help getting unstuck. I am trusting God to help me move forward my life.

I have my big upgrade project this weekend. Whew!

Hang in there, my friends! I will be upbeat and steady. That is what I do...

Unstuck...

Our Daily Bread

Ever get stuck in the same old rut? It could be anything really. Going to the same places to eat. Watching the same old TV shows. Hanging out with the same old friends. Watching the same old movies over and over. A rut. You are stuck.

We can get this way in our personal relationships as well -- our relationship with God and maybe even a personal relationship that you want to move forward. In our personal relationships, we can go for weeks, months or even years trying the same approach to making the relationship move forward. A definition of insanity is: repeating the same action over and over and expecting a different result! There are times we need to reevaluate where we are. We need to change our approach or our attitudes toward the relationship. It is a good thing. It is a healthy thing. It can free you up to allow God to meet the desires of your heart. Wow...

Our relationship with God is similar. We get into a rut with going to church, maybe doing a little Bible study, giving money to good causes, and being a nice person. Those are all good things. Sometimes God calls us to do more because we can handle more. A favorite phrase of mine is: "To those he has given much, much will be required of them". Double wow! Have you been given much? I know I have.

Lord, help me do all that is required of me...and more. I love you!

Simply Saturday

It was a wild week for duanebear (my nickname). Work was crazy trying to get ready for my big upgrade project (again). We finally decided on Friday that we are a "go" for next Friday. That set some things in motion for me. I had to cancel my eye surgery for 1/18. I will reschedule in a few weeks for a time after my Orlando trip. Whew...

God is getting me "unstuck" from some ruts in my personal relationships. It is stressful and somewhat painful for me, but I can see how God wants me to move forward to the things he has for me. I am so thankful. I am also thankful for all the things I learned about myself the past three years. God used these relationships in so many ways. I have become close with some wonderful men that I hope to have in my life til the very end. I am so blessed.

So what is next for duanebear? Does it matter? What does it matter where the road goes as long as God is leading? The most important thing for me is to put God first - ahead of any potential (or actual) romantic relationship or job or cause or personal preference.
The rest will fall into place.

Other Stuff

My left eye is acting up this morning. I will rest today. I did a little bit around the house today. I may have over done it. ;-( My eye can act up if I forget about NOT bending over to pick up something just one time. I am too butch to be this delicate! hehehe It will be fine. I have faith.

Going to spend time helping some friends this afternoon and then relaxing. There will be no lifting involved! hehehe I am looking forward to it.

A close friend helped me assemble my recumbent bike. I am going to ride it this morning before I take a shower. I want to ride it 3 - 6 times per week to get into shape for a 1/2 marathon walk with a buddy. Should be a good deal.

I have a contractor visiting this morning to start working on my basement remodeling. He is giving me a great deal. He will also move my chandelier from my breakfast room to my dining room. I am looking forward to having that done. I will post some pictures after it is all done.

Hang in there, my friends. I will be upbeat and steady. That is what I do...

Another bull's eye...

Our Daily Bread

I get tired of all the cliches that people tell you when you are going through a difficult time. I try not to say them to my friends when they are going through a rough time. A very cool example happened last week. A close friend lost his job. I sent him an email ending with ", you are my beloved child in whom I am well-pleased". He was touched by that. The best part is that our minister preached about saying this to our friends and family at church on Sunday! Wow! I reminded my friend after church that at least one person received that encouragement last week! Praise God!

As God is taking me down a new road, devotionals like the one today mean more and more to me. Sure, some things may not work out the way we want - job, relationship, new car, trip, etc. We never know how those situations might be a blessing in disguise. It is hard to tell at the time. Hindsight can often provide the view we need to have strength for the future.

One example happened to my aunt. She was scheduled to fly back to the US on a specific day and flight. She was delayed and had to take a later flight. The flight she missed was bombed by a terrorist and everyone on board was killed! Wow!

In summary, God knows what is best for us, in his time, not ours. It is difficult to be patient. It is difficult to see through the loneliness and pain at times. Remember the times that
God has been there for you in the past. Have faith that will be there for you now and in the future. His love is faithful and sure.

Lord, thank you for your everlasting love. Please help me have faith through all circumstances.

Foodie Friday

I have to quick and easy recipes this week: sort of like home made Chex mix and a quick and tasty con queso dip for parties or any time!

Chorizo con queso

1 lb chorizo sausauge (preferably ground instead of links)

2 large jars of Frito Lay medium con queso dip

Brown the chorizo sausage. Drain well and pat dry. Mix with the con queso dip and warm up in a crock pot on low or warm, stirring occasionally. I usually serve this with Dips tortilla chips or regular tortilla chips. Mmmmm!

Chex mix express

1 bag of chex mix premade (large bag or small bag)

1 small bag of peanuts

1 small bag of cashews

2 tablespoons of butter

1 tablespoon of Worcestershire sauce

1/2 teaspoon seasoned salt

Melt the butter in a microwavable pan like a glass 9X13 pan. Mix in the Worcestershire and salt. Add the Chex mix and nuts. Toss gently. Microwave for 30 seconds. Toss again to get the coating evenly on each piece. Microwave for another 30 seconds. Eat immediately while it is still warm! FYI, I usually pick out the nasty brown thingys! hehehe

Other Stuff

Had a very busy and stressful week at work. Had a stressful week personally. At the end of the week, I continue to be upbeat and steady. I will continue to thank God for each new day so I can live as a conqueror for him. Thank you, God, and praise you for answering prayers. You know what is best for me. I want to have faith and follow the road before me. I have no frickin' clue where it is going! A life that is not ordinary can be like the TV show The Amazing Race! hehehe

My eye is cloudy tonight. I am relaxing tonight and tomorrow morning. I am going to help out some friends tomorrow afternoon (no lifting will be involved). I am so fortunate to have close friends. Thank you, God.

Hang in there, my friends. I will be upbeat and steady. That is what I do...

More than conquerors...

Our Daily Bread
The events of the past few weeks got to me last night. I was more than a little upset. When I called a close friend, he could tell from my few words of greeting that something wasn't right. I am thankful that I have close friends that listen to me and offer words of encouragement through these times. I am very, very thankful...

So this leads into the devotional for today. My favorite verse from the scripture is romans 8:37: "No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us" I have been using something like this in my morning prayer time asking God to help me be a conqueror today, not just a survivor! How about you? Are you just trying to make it through the day or are you going to be a conqueror today?

Expect more of yourself. Trust God more. That is what I do...

Lord, I want to be conqueror today through the power of your love and grace. Thank you and praise you!

Technology Thursday
I didn't have time to play with the Internet TV content this week. I spent time with friends and doing stuff in my office. I had to rebuild Windows 7 on my aunt's desktop. Not sure what repercussions that will cause. I will find out when I take the computer back. ;-p

If you have been living in a cave, you might have missed Verizon's announcement that iPhone4 will be available on their network in February. That is nice, but iPhone4 doesn't support their 4G network. ;-( The bar has been raised for phones since most of the major carriers now have 4G networks in select areas of the country. I am waiting for a dual-core processor Android phone that supports 4G networks. That is unless iPhone 4 Next has that configuration. ;-) I love my iPhone, but the technology is officially lagging behind the Android phones at this point. ATT is lagging behind the other carriers with their 4G/LTE network. Not good!

Other Stuff
My doctor and I decided to do the serious eye surgery. The blood inside my eye is not clearing up as it should. It has been in there for about a year now. I have been acting like a china doll the past few weeks to it would bleed any more. I am checking my schedule at work to determine when I can schedule the surgery. It may be as early as Jan 18 or as late as Feb 8 depending on the schedule for my big project. I will post the decision here as soon as I know. I am nervous about it because of the chain of events this surgery will kick off. I will have faith and stay upbeat.

We had a great D2 class last night. The discussions about prayer were great. We talked about it most of the class time. We didn't talk much about the rejection chapter.

I have a three day weekend coming up. I need that. ;-)

Hang in there, my friends. I will remain upbeat and steady. That is what I do...

It is so easy...

Our Daily Bread

One of the most touching moments I have had since attending King Avenue UMC the past few years was a conversation I had after morning blend one Sunday. A couple I had never met came up to me and asked how my eyes were doing. I was a little surprised, but told them what was going on. They told me they were on a prayer team at church and had been lifting up my concerns in their prayers. Later I found out that one of them had similar problems a few years before, but did not recover nearly as well as I had. I felt so blessed that they were praying for me, though unaware, and that they did so unselfishly! I decided that day I needed to pray more!

It is so easy to lift yourself up when you start to pray more. You want others to know. You have a tendency to pray selfishly at first. It can be confusing to pray at times because there are so many schools of thought about prayer. I will write up notes that help me with prayer. I will post them here in the next week or so. I hope they help you in your prayer life.

Teach me to pray, Lord, teach me to pray. Thou art the potter. I am the clay.

Weight Loss Wednesday

I am eating better. I am exercising more. I will exercise even more after I assemble my recumbent bike. I ordered it on Sunday and it arrived last night! Wow! I need help getting it down to the basement (since I am not allowed to lift). I have some friends coming over this week to help me. I hope to be riding away by this weekend!

I weighed in at 267.6 this morning. Woohoooo! That is 4.4 pounds lost so far. I will keep working on it. I can do this... ;-)

Other Stuff

Last night was much busier than I planned. I got off work late due to a conference call going long. I stopped by Giant Eagle to pick up a few things. I had some phone calls to return. I worked on my aunt's computer (made great progress there!). I also talked with a new friend. He is a guy that God led to my door while shoveling snow to earn some money. I invited him in for coffee to warm up and we talked. I am going to talk to him more on Thursday about doing some work for me around the house. He is struggling right now. I like to help hard working folks who are down on their luck. God has blessed me that way.

My ex called me to let me know his uncle passed away. He was a dear man even though he was a Republican. hehehe He would have been 90 years old if he had lived to the end of the month. I am sending his aunt a card today. I will not be able to make the funeral tomorrow. Uncle G always treated me like the rest of the family even though he didn't really approve of my relationship with the ex (a homosexual relationship...). That was very sweet.

My eye is a little cloudy and a little swirly this morning. I am nervous about the doctor appointment at 10:00 am. It would be a relief to decide on doing the physical surgery (which is serious stuff), but that surgery also means a whole new adventure like I had with my right eye (cataract surgery will probably be needed by year end). I will post the decision here tomorrow. I have things at work that I need to schedule around. ;-p

Life is good. I am so blessed with close friends and my church. Praise God!

Hang in there, my friends. I will be upbeat and steady. That is what I do...

Comfort ye, my people

Our Daily Bread

The greatest comfort is to know that God is in control - ODB.org, Jan 11, 2011. There seems to be a theme this week! The main thought from yesterday focused on taking comfort in the road ahead since God is leading. Very cool.

I know how things work in my life. I don't know exactly how they work in yours. I have things that I want to happen. I have health issues that I want resolved. I have dreams of the last romantic relationship of my life. I have desires. In times of uncertainty, it is easy to forget that God is in control. He leads us where he wants us to go -- to the best place for us to be! I keep forgetting that (sort of like Israel in the Old Testament).

Lord, I want to follow the road you have in front of me. Thank you for your comfort that you know what is best for me and you are in control.

Disciple Two-sday

We studied Prayer and Rejection this week. Both chapters were very good (again).

Prayer

We focused on the prayer life of Jesus and the model prayer he gave us. My favorite part was the use of the word "Abba" in the prayer. The book explained that Abba is a very affectionate term for father, like a father that you are very, very close to. I never had that kind of relationship with my father, so I don't really understand that concept very well. That is why I use the word "Father" when we say the Lord's Prayer at church. I want to think of God as my Abba Father, a unique relationship in my life.

Rejection

We all face rejection in our lives. This chapter focuses on the rejection that Jesus and his disciples faced in their ministries. I was motivated to handle rejection in my own life, whether it was personal or religious, much better than in the past.

Other Stuff

I visited my buddy in the hospital last night. We had a great talk about stuff. I hope he will be OK.

My left eye is still mixing it up. hehehe Cloudy or chocolate swirls or both. I can sort of see out of it, but not very well. I am nervous about the doctor appointment tomorrow. I will be upbeat and steady... God is in control.

Hang in there, my friends! I will be upbeat and steady... That is what I do...

Absolutely no clue...

Our Daily Bread

You might remember me mentioning a Thomas Merton prayer in my postings. It has meant a lot to me the past few months since it was given to me in my D2 class. I usually pray it twice a day. Sooooooo God reinforces that prayer in my life over and over again. Today is a great example. I am such a tender-hearted bear, it made me cry a little this morning as God answered a question from my morning prayers with this devotion!

Here is a quote from the devotion: "You don’t need to know where you’re going

if you know God is leading." Wow! The problem is -- I really, really want to know! hehehe I want to know when my eyes will be OK again. I want to know when I will meet the man I will spend the rest of my life with. I want to know when I will get to build the home of my dreams. I want to know how long I will live. blah, blah, blah. All of those questions are clanging bells that muddle my thoughts of trusting God completely.

I have been through a lot the past few years. For each trial, there has been at least two blessings in return. I can do nothing but praise God for all he has done for me.

Lord, please help me "see" what you have done for me and praise you for everything!

Movie Monday

I saw two movies on DVD this weekend. Jesus of Montreal and Is it just me?

Jesus of Montreal

This is a movie with a story in a story. It is about a group of actors that were asked to freshen up the story of Jesus at a Catholic shrine in Montreal. There is the actualy story they are teling, which was done extremely well. There is also symbolism in each of them and their own stories surrounding their lives. It is very; cool. It is in subtitles, so be prepared for lots of reading. That was a little tough for me with my current eye issues. I give it 3 bear paws.

Is it just me?

This is a gay film about a love-lorn writer looking for the man of his dreams. He is an "old-fashioned gay" that doesn't seem to fit into the California gay lifestyle. When he actually meets a great guy online, he realizes that he is signed on as his hot roommate instead of his own profile. There are lots of interesting lines and awkward situations and humor. You will have to see it yourself for the ending. ;-) I give it 2 bear paws.

Other Stuff

I feel better about things today. I had some prayer time to work things out with God yesterday and this morning. I think I was worn down a little by all the things that happened the past two weeks. I will have faith (see the statement above about God leading). ;-)

I ordered my Schwinn recumbent bike last night. My doctor recommended some kind of bike instead of a treadmill to minimize impact on my feet, ankles and knees. I will see how it goes. I have ridden them at the gym many times and usually get a good workout for my legs. I need to work on upper body as well. I like using the elliptical machines, but a good home machine is very expensive in my opinion.

I had an afternoon of "me" time yesterday. I spent most of my time with friends last week. I needed to get some stuff done around the house and work on my D2 readings. I finished the D2 readings. I plan to review them in more depth tonight and tomorrow night.

The cloudiness in my left eye varies greatly at times. Sometimes cloudy. Sometimes chocolate swirls. Sometimes lots of both. ;-( I go back to the doctor on Wednesday for another checkup.

Hang in there, my friends. I will be upbeat and steady. That is what I do...

Never slumber, nor sleeps

Our Daily Bread

I am the type of person that goes until he drops. I go hard. I then stop to sleep for a little while, then start back at it again! Insomnia runs in my family, so I enjoy sleeping while I can!

It is comforting to know that we have a God that neither slumbers, nor sleeps. He is always watching over us. Always has our back. Even we don't really think he cares or notices what is going on with us, he is always there. We can rest in that!

Lord, thank you for watching my back! Help me to rest in you.

Sunday Friend

My friend this week is "The Pianist". This friend is so much more than just an amazing musician. She is a true friend as well. I don't know how many hours we spent doing music together when I was younger. We sang in a group together. She played for me when I sang solos.

I think there are two ways to get very close to a person: share a meal and share music. ;-) I miss seeing the pianist on a regular basis. We still keep in touch during the holidays. I need to make a better effort to stay in touch all year long.

Other Stuff

I had a nice day with friends yesterday. I am spending today at home catching up on reading and stuff around the house.

Please say a little prayer for me. The new year has been a little tough for me so far. I am usually upbeat and steady. I am not feeing much of either today. I am sure my D2 readings will brighten my day. ;-)

Hang in there, my friends! I WILL be upbeat and steady. That is what I do...

Share and share alike

Our Daily Bread
Do you remember how you learned to share when you were a child? "It is nice to share" "Don't be selfish, share your toys" We learned more about it when we started school as well. Sharing the sand box or the swing or even our lunch at times.

As adults and as children of God, sharing is still a requirement! ;-) We often make excuses about not having time for this or that. For many of us, sharing of our time is a precious gift. It is easy to write a check to share our resources. It is more of a commitment to share our time. Visit a friend in the hospital. Support a friend who is down. Call the lonely. Sharing of ourselves and our faith is a requirement!

Lord, I want to share you love with others. Please help me do so!

Technology Thursday
I have been playing with watching content from the Internet this week. I canceled my cable and phone server from ATT. I kept my fast Internet access, which is awesome! I wrote about replacing my phone service with MagicJack last week. There are some limitations, but it seems to be working great for me so far. I am really enjoying the money I am saving!

As far as TV, I hooked up my laptop to my flat panel TV last night to see if I could watch a ball game on espn3.com or an episode of Warehouse 13 from the scify.com site. My laptop has an HDMI port so I connected that to my TV. The picture quality was acceptable, but was not the excellent HD experience I had with Uverse cable. I still need to figure out how to get the sound flowing through my TV or stereo correctly. I will figure that out this weekend.

The bottom line is that I am saving over $85 per month by getting the small amount of TV content I want to watch using equipment I already own. Very cool! I am also attaching a bluetooth mouse and keyboard so I can control the laptop from my couch as well! Woohoooo! I am such a geek! hehehe

Other Stuff
My left eye is trying to clear up a little, but is still very cloudy. I do not see any new blood, which is great. I am being very careful with lifting and with straining of any kind. Heavy sigh. I will take it easy as best as I can. I have my house keeper visiting this weekend so I don't overdo it cleaning my house.

Hang in there, my friends! I will be upbeat and steady. That is what I do...

Our Daily Bread
"Because God is in control, we have nothing to fear" I love that statement! It is so easy during times of trial and doubt to forget that God IS in control. He allows things to happen to us because we are not robots. We are his children that can learn and grow through good times and bad times.

We have nothing to fear. Nothing. ;-)

Lord, help us remember we have nothing to fear! You have it all under control.

Weight Loss Wednesday
I weighed in at 270 this morning. That is two pounds down from my starting weight of 272. I made the commitment to eat better and exercise more in 2011. I can do this! The goal is to lose 72 pounds this year. One of my goals is to walk a half marathon with a buddy from church. I will let you know how that goes. ;-)

Other Stuff
Lots going on during this new year. A friend lost his job yesterday. Another close friend is in the hospital with a serious condition. Other folks are struggling with existing issues. Let's pray for all of our friends and families. Let's be there for them the best we can.

My eye hasn't improved any today. It was getting clearer the past few days. I will continue to be careful and not exert myself to rigorously. I am too butch to be this delicate... hehehe

Hang in there, my friends. I will be upbeat and steady. Not only for me, but for my friends as well. That is what I do...

Quiet, confident joy

Our Daily Bread
I have admired St Francis of Assisi since I sang his prayer set to music when I was in college. He was a brilliant and insightful man of God.

I like the last section of the devotional: The way of joy is to love the Lord with all our heart, soul, and mind. Jesus told us that was the greatest commandment. He didn't really mention the effect that living the greatest commandment would have on our lives. The way to joy is to love God with everything you have. Happiness is one thing. It is fleeting. Joy is deeper than happiness. It permeates every part of your life!

Lord, I want the joy that loving you can give me!

Disciple Two-sday
I plan to start reading next week's lesson this evening. I am excited about the last 8 weeks or so of class as we study Luke and Acts!

Other Stuff
I had a busy day yesterday with chores and errands. I was off work for our New Years Day holiday, so I took full advantage of it. Lots of changes to save some money and better use my resources. ;-) I will make some more this week, like program my thermostat to turn the heat down during the day. That will save 10 - 20% on my heat bill. ;-)

My left eye is trying to clear up. I can see more out of it today. I am being very, very careful with my activities.

Hang in there, my friends. I will be upbeat and steady. That is what I do...

Sorry for my absence over the weekend...

I spent most of the past two days with friends celebrating the new year. We had a great time. Sorry I didn't update my blog over the weekend. It is a brand new year! What does God have in store for you?

Our Daily Bread

I talked to an acquaintance recently about having a personal relationship with God. In his reality, the only people that had a personal relationship with God were people like Abraham, Moses, the apostles and maybe a few current day folks. I told him that I felt like everyone who was willing to humble themselves and ask for forgiveness from sins could have a personal relationship with God. What do you think? Talk amongst yourselves... hehehe

The story about Hannah touched my heart. We each have deep desires. God knows those desires. Are we willing to ask God to fulfill those desires? Are we willing to give everything over to God to trust him completely? That is my prayer this year. I want to give some things to God that I keep messing up on my own!

Lord, please know the desires of my heart and lead me where you want me to be to fulfill those desires!

Movie Monday

I didn't get a chance to go to the movies this week, but I did watch two movies on DVD. I reviewed Easy A a few months ago. The other movie was Ninja Assassin. OOOooooooo!

Ninja Assassin is not for the weak of heart or folks who have a weak stomach! It is very gory. The fight scenes are very over the top. It is very exciting to watch. There are also some tender moments in the movie as well. If you like martial arts, you will love watching this movie. I give it 2 bear paws. It is worth buying on DVD for the better sounds and better picture in the low light scenes.

Other Stuff

As I mentioned above, I spend most of the past two days with friends celebrating the new year. I should also say recovering from celebrating the new year! I feel like my party was a success. We had about 28 people attending during the course of the evening with 12 staying past midnight. We had a nice time. There was a ton of food and drink, too. Good times!

I spent Sunday afternoon hanging out with Fly bear. We usually have a nice time when we get together. We discussed some things we want to do during 2011 (like not spend as much on meals!).

I finished most of my chores this morning without irritating my left eye. The cloudiness comes and goes. I can drive, but I will minimize that as much as possible. I spent part of the morning working getting refunds and submitting insurance papers for travel refunds. I will see how that goes.

It is a new year, my friends. Make it the best year ever. I will be upbeat and steady this year. It is what I do....