Maryland Trip

I just got home last night from a short, yet long, trip to Maryland to visit Nicki’s dad. The trip was fun, but when you take a 5 year old and an 18 month old on that long of a trip, it wears you out…and drives you crazy! To make matters worst, the kids get up earlier than God, and since my father-in-laws house only has two bedrooms, that meant we had to get up earlier than God as well! We did not get much sleep, and I don’t think I will ever take an 18 month old in the car for that long of a trip again either, Gavin was fine with his portable DVD player, but we only have one and it is on his seat, so Tristan got bored.

I also had the opportunity to visit my friend Mike Kemper. We visited his church (Charm City Churchy) in the city of Baltimore. West Baltimore to be exact, and when you think about “Downtown” I guarantee you he is no where near the downtown you see in your city. (Here is a slide show from a random website, the pictures show a glimpse of the area, but they do not do it justice. I didn’t see any trash on the streets in these pictures, and no people…the trash along the curb would have come up to about my ankle). Mike’s church does not have all of the flash and bang that a lot of churches have, but I guarantee you he would put a lot of American churches to shame…for that matter…a lot of churches period! He is truly reaching the addicts, the prostitutes, the poor…those who are totally disconnected from God. His vision to reach the city of Baltimore is awesome, and God is sending him people from everywhere. I will be blogging about his church more in a later post, but I know God is going to use Mike Kemper in an awesome way!

Thank God for the Sacrifice of the U.S. Soldiers!

This is a very touching picture. It reminds me that while we enjoy freedom and liberty some have paid a very high price on our behalf. Soldiers have sacrificed the greatest thing anyone could give…their life. They have sacrificed months and years a part from their families; and the families have had to sacrifice being away from them. As this picture so sadly reminds us, many families have paid a steep price for our freedoms as well. The young man in the picture lost a parent, for you and for me. The sacrifices made by these soldiers and their families are taken so lightly everyday by each of us, yet we so easily take advantage of their benefits, our freedom to worship how we choose, our freedom to say what we want, our freedom to vote, our freedom to do what is right and good, and our freedom to simply live free in the best country in the world.Today would be a good day to say a little prayer and thank God for the freedoms he gives, but to also thank him for the soldiers and the families who have so selflessly given up so much in order for us to live with freedom, liberty, and justice! Enjoy the freedom, but don’t forget the cost, and don’t just give it away to the government or to anyone for that matter…I am sure this young man would say the same.

Bad Blogging Week

It is going on a good week and a half since I blogged. I’ve been over my head with stuff outside of work and at work with their huge Bible and Missionary Conference coming up. I’ll be blogging again real soon!

Go Vote!

Go vote! Its your right and responsibility as an American…so do it!
I voted for Mike Huckabee, but all that matters is that you vote! Go do it!
And while you are at it consider Mike Huckabee!