This Sunday with my 5th and 6th graders I’d like to teach them about the battle that happened during the 3 days while Jesus was dead. I need to do some research, but I’d like to explore why Jesus was dead for 3 days. I know it was prophesied in the old testament and Jesus mentioned the destruction of the temple and it’s rebuilding in 3 days… but why 3 days? The number of perfection? Is there a tie there to the Trinity? What are your thoughts?
I’m really happy with how my house is looking, check out the pictures: http://www.Obeo.com/585718
Call me partial, but I have to say I think I have one of the coolest houses on the block, if not in all of Plano for it’s price range. Listed at 165,000 my home is a great first-time buyer property and the furniture, minus the green chair and the artwork, can be included with the property. I’m down-sizing dramatically and simplifying my life and I hope that this house sells quickly so I can get moved back to Denton. Am I a bit apprehensive? Yes. I’ve gotten used to having my own place with a garage and lots of space, but the trade-off is that you have more to take care of and the costs are really astronomical.
When you buy a house they don’t tell you that your mortgage can go up even if your rate is fixed due to increases in taxes and home owners insurance. My mortgage went from $1167 a month to $1451 after living there for 1.5 years. I asked why and they said, “Your taxes went up by 1000 dollars a year” and my response was that they increase the money they were taking from me by $3000.
Anyway, long story short, having a house is awesome, but as a single guy I don’t think the investment is worth it. I would have done better if I had just saved all the money I invested in this property… but on the upside, I got to live in a really great house in a really great location.
This has to be one of my favorite things. The soft horse nose which is smoother than velvet and has some little whiskers that seem unnecessary but are as useful as eyebrows. God doesn’t miss a thing.
I remember when I worked at a horse ranch in Sanger, Texas. I was 12 and big for my age, but the horses were bigger. “Spring” was a twelve year old Appaloosa that had the most gentle spirit. She was a brood mare and had conceived multiple champion stallions. Even in her huge frame she seemed graceful and motherly. While many horses are skittish and they will look at you with a wide-eye filled with fear whenever you approach, Spring would only stand there and act as if you were insignificant. She had a quiet strength that seemed to calm the air around her and I enjoyed being near her for this very reason.
Not all the horses at the Bar-B Ranch were like Spring. Actually, the majority of them weren’t. Some horses are arrogant or expectant. Some are fearful or mean, but at the Bar-B, all of them were beautiful.
What I love about Appaloosas is that it looks as if God had some extra white paint lying around and decided to splash it on the rear end of these great creatures. A splish here, a splash there and when the horses tried to run away gleefully from their creator they kicked up some of the paint and sprinkled their feet and the rest of their body.
If you have never had the chance to stand quietly in the open near a bunch of horses then you might not understand that in this single animal there are signs of God. How could something be so graceful on four strange hooves? How could so much muscle and flesh be carved so exquisitely beautiful?
As I stroked Springs nose I couldn’t resist but to nuzzle it against my face. I would look her in the eyes and she would stare back seeming to understand that I didn’t expect anything from her, I just needed to be near her. Looking back I now realize that the comfort I drew from Spring was similar to the strength I draw from God. Understanding his strength is superior and yet still knowing that he is gentle and kind and graceful.
I don’t understand people who don’t believe in God, perhaps, they’ve never felt the softness of a horses’ nose.
“Bros before Dominoes” I said to Joe as we were playing a game of Chicken Foot or Mexican train dominoes and he kept winning. Joe is my best friend, but he is more like an older brother and his family is definitely like my family.
On Saturday we went to a UK football game and before that we did a little tailgating Kentucky style. There was a plethora of people camped out around the stadium hours beforehand with their UK Blue pop up tents, televisions, generators and ice chests overflowing with beer and brats. We hadn’t eaten lunch and so I gorged on a some chicken wings, 2 hot dogs, chips and dip and some serious dessert.
After the tailgating we went to the game and UK lost in overtime, but wow, what a great experience. The crowd was really into the game and there is nothing quite like watching sports live. There seems to be this community of people who come together for a moment all hoping and wishing for the same thing – VICTORY. The battle raged on the field and in the stands as we cheered on the Wildcats with a C-A-T-S – CATS! CATS! CATS! but alas, Tennessee defeated us in the end.
The rest of the weekend was spent playing racquetball and eating as well as hanging some with Joe’s wife Amber, Amber’s best friend Nicole, Joe’s daugther Abi and of course Amber’s parents Steve and Thel.
Steve thought he would take his 58 year old body and play some racquetball against Joe and I and what a mistake! After a few falls and a tight hamstring we finally called it a day. But it was so fun playing one of my favorite sports with two of my favorite people.
It was a great Thanksgiving weekend and I’m thankful for the friends and family the God has put in my life.
How was your Turkey Day?
Whoa. Where has this year gone? I can’t believe that I have been self-employed now for almost a full year. It’s been a wild ride and I have a lot to be thankful for. It seems that every time I was in a bind and my operating cash was getting close to a big fat ZERO God swooped in and blessed me with a job that paid just enough to pay my bills and to restock the fridge.
I don’t always have everything that I want, but I always have everything I need.
So a big Thanks goes to God this year for not only providing me with so much, but also for stretching my faith.
What are you thankful for this year?