Babysitting

so, I've. been here all night and it's been pretty uneventful. Not at all like I expected. I did get a little sleep. More than I expected which is none :-)

Something that happened last shift

So there I was, just minding my own business, and.........that's how it always starts. We had a "rider" at the fire station last shift. To clarify the riders we get are usually young kids in the explorer program getting to see what it's like first hand to be a firefighter.

He came up to me and said "hey, you're religious aren't you?" Wow! The conversation that ensued was cool and exciting, it was neat to get to share my faith in such a profound way! But that got me to thinking. It takes a lot to get up the nerve to talk to someone about struggles you're having. We didn't get to finish our conversation, but I couldn't help but think. How long had this person been watching me? And, what was it that I did that warranted him coming and talking to me? Is it possible I could have slipped and missed this whole opportunity to share with him by giving in to temptation in the workplace? Only by God's Grace! It gave me a real sense of how much people are watching you. And, how important it is to "keep the Faith" as Paul said. I hope to get to share with this individual again, but most of all, I am grate full to God for teaching me something through this.

note to self

Who gets off standing up at someones funeral and saying "I knew her better than any of y'all" and tooting your own horn! wow.
Sent from my LG phone

Well, today I set up my cell phone so I can post from it! I can't get on blogger at work, because it is blocked on the computers there. I hope to post more soon

When the Bomb shells are flying, DUCK!

Duck is right, I have made a lot of mistakes in my life, Most of which I'm not proud of......That came out wrong. :) What I mean is......I've done a lot of stupid things that make me look bad.......Duh, That came out wrong too :) Well, Let's see if I can relate something on this page that in some way let's a "reader" know how I feel. Some way I can type out emotion!! My favorite is the Exclamation Point!!!!!!. Sometimes we read into things that aren't really there. For example. I might say "that is a cool, That truck is on fire! Now....What a morbid thought, someones truck is on "Fire" even if you know me that could have more than one meaning. It could mean, (because I am a fireman) that I had a good experience putting someones truck, that was on fire literally, OUT! It could also mean, that I went to the Drag Strip and saw someone put down some really good times on the race track......No, They Didn't put someones "good times" down........and they weren't on the race track when they did it......Have I got you confused yet? Sometimes all we need is a little context to clear things up. Sometimes.....People can misinterpret us and we don't know why. At yet other times we Don't give someone the information they seek and the Bomb shells start flying. When that Happens.......Don't stand up in pride.....DUCK! Praise the Lord that some messes I make He allows me the opportunity to clean up. Others are like my preacher used to say, "you made your stew, and now you have to eat it" I am reminded of a sermon I once heard on Taking up offenses, and how God gives grace to the one offended to forgive. But when we "take up" another's offences, we don't have the Grace to forgive. And that fester boils, er that boil festers...however that goes. I hope y'all know, I love y'all, and wish the best for ya, and the next time I offend you, to talk to me about it. Who knows I may be able to explain it better over the phone, or in person, which is my Favorite. Although, there's nothing like apologizing in person. :) It's tough. Now, to study for the fire I and II test I take Thurday evening! :)

Aaahhh! Life! Why?

What in the world is going on? It's been a while since my last post. thought I would write something even though I don't really have time! :) As I prepare for the birth of our fourth child (Andrew Nathanial) I am overwhelmed at how much "stuff" I have to get done and how little of that Pays the bills. Ya know what I mean? I mean I've been busy, but it doesn't pay. I need to finish remodeling a house that we will move into next week, Study so that I don't fail the classes I've been taking for Fire I and II, and do the work that I have lined out for Johnson Electric. All the while I'm still going to classes Three nights a week and every other sat, and trying to see my wife and kids before they go to bed. AAAHHH! well, there you have it I need help, but at least I feel better now that I have blogged something for 2009 and have gotten all that off my chest! :) Y'all take care!

Commitment? Michael Phelps!

Wow, After just Watching Michael Phelps win his Eighth Gold medal in a single Olympics, I am Awed. To do Something that has never been done in the 100+ years of Olympic History Requires a great deal of Commitment. We live in a world where It is not uncommon to hear of someone getting married and shortly thereafter getting a divorce. I am saddened to say that even good Friends of mine who have made "Commitments" to each other have gotten divorced and not thought anything of it. This Happens on a regular basis in the world we live in. If you want to get out of a contract all you have to do is just think of some piddly little reason to get out and you can just walk away. Sadly, We see this in the church as well. Well meaning believers have let this lack of commitment seep into their lives. If something happens at church we don't like we'll just go find another church that does something we do like. Whatever happened to the Commitment of a handshake and the meaning of a mans word. Now If you decide you don't want to pay for something just don't pay, If it means that much to the person of company you didn't pay, They'll get around to suing you after a while and chances are you could settle with them for pennies on the Dollar before it gets to that point. To See the Kind of commitment that Michael Phelps has to the sport of swimming is indeed inspiring. Even for a guy like me who normally won't watch any sporting event unless it says NASCAR in the title. Did you know that Michael Phelps was quoted as saying that he just eats sleeps and swims? And that he trains 12 hours a day!? TWELVE HOURS!? It's rare for me to put in a workday that long. And this guy does that everyday? This guy has to eat 12000 Calories a day just to keep up with his slim physique. To put that in perspective the FDA says that a normal healthy male needs only 2500-3000 cals a day. This guy is committed to what he's doing. He's done almost everything he set out to do at this Olympics. We could learn a lot from him. But there's another Man who's more Committed than Michael Phelps. My Savior Jesus Christ Died on the Cross for My sins and the sins of the whole world, He first lived a sinless life! Was Crucified on the cross of Calvary, was buried. But he didn't stay dead. On the third day he Rose from the dead! Now that's Commitment!............... One day he's coming back for me and my fellow believers. On this Day We'll meet him in the air! The dead in Christ shall rise first and then they which remain shall be caught up together with him in the air! I so look forward to that day!