OK, first of all let me say that all these examples do NOT imply that gasoline is cheap; it just illustrates how outrageous some other prices are. I was really shocked by the last one on this list. I know that these prices are a little skewed because...let's face it, it takes a lot longer to use a gallon of Whiteout than it does a gallon of gas. Just for fun...
Diet Snapple 16 oz $1.29 ... $10.32 per gallon
Lipton Ice Tea 16 oz $1.19 ..........$9.52 per gallon
Gatorade 20 oz $1.90 .. $12.17 per gallon
Ocean Spray 16 oz $1.25 ......... $10.00 per gallon
Brake Fluid 12 oz $3.15 ...... $33.60 per gallon
Vick's NyQuil 6 oz $8.35 ... $178.13 per gallon
Peptobismol 4 oz $3.85 .. $123.20 per gallon
Whiteout 7 oz $1.39 ....... . $25.42 per gallon
Scope 1.5 oz $0.99 .....$84.48 per gallon
Evian water 9 oz $1.49..$21.19 per gallon! (It is interesting to not that Evian spelled backwards is Naive.)
Just a little humor to help ease the pain of your next trip to the pump, although I wasn't laughing or thinking of this list yesterday when I filled my car up. It cost me $52.00.
Saturday, May 31, 2008
Thursday, May 29, 2008
Living In The Dark Ages
I feel like Leah and I are living in the "dark ages" sometimes. Why? I guess because we do not have two of the major "conveniences" that most married people our age have at their home. They are cable TV and the Internet. (Thus the reason my posts on here are often days apart. I can only post when I have time while I am in my office. Otherwise I would try to be on here daily.) I must confess that not having cable TV isn't that big a deal. Yes, I do get annoyed when people ask, "Dude, did you see that game last night?"... and for the 15th time I have to tell them, "No, we do not have cable." Then I receive this look of pity like my dog has just died. I do miss watching college football on Saturdays during the fall on ESPN and college basketball in the winter; however, I can't think of another thing on cable TV that I would want to see. Maybe, that is because we do not have it, and we do not know what we are missing. I seriously doubt that is the case.
Of the two, I would pay to have the Internet at the house. Is there a simpler and easier way to keep of with friends and family than the Internet? I don't think so. Plus, you can get all the news and highlights of any game or show or randomness from the day that you have missed because you do not have cable TV. Leah is going out of town this weekend to watch her cousin graduate from high school. I wanted to surprise her with a little flower garden around the mailbox. I had no idea how to plant a flower garden until just a few minutes ago. I typed the words "how to plant a flower garden" into the search bar and had over 300,000 results to pick from. You can't do that with cable TV.
We do not think that the Internet or cable is wrong. We just do not have the funds to have those conveniences at this point of our marriage. We can do better things with the money God has given us. What about you? More on this subject next time!
Of the two, I would pay to have the Internet at the house. Is there a simpler and easier way to keep of with friends and family than the Internet? I don't think so. Plus, you can get all the news and highlights of any game or show or randomness from the day that you have missed because you do not have cable TV. Leah is going out of town this weekend to watch her cousin graduate from high school. I wanted to surprise her with a little flower garden around the mailbox. I had no idea how to plant a flower garden until just a few minutes ago. I typed the words "how to plant a flower garden" into the search bar and had over 300,000 results to pick from. You can't do that with cable TV.
We do not think that the Internet or cable is wrong. We just do not have the funds to have those conveniences at this point of our marriage. We can do better things with the money God has given us. What about you? More on this subject next time!
Thursday, May 22, 2008
What Might Have Been
Do you ever wonder what might have been? What if that deal would have closed? What is SHE didn't dump you for your best friend? What if you hadn't bought that car that you knew was just right for you...now five years later you are wondering how could you have been so stupid, and how can I get rid of this payment? Sometimes I think about what might have been...
It was three years ago around this time that we were candidating at a church in Louisiana. The church was awesome. The guy I would be working directly under was awesome. Even though it was 12 hours from my home, and 20 hours away from Leah's family, we had made up our mind that if they offer the position, we were going. I still remember the phone call I received telling me that they did not think I had the experience necessary for the position they had open. We were crushed. I struggled for a couple of weeks after that call. I was hurt.
Three years later now I am teaching at Grace Christian Academy in Knoxville, close to home. Leah's parents have moved from WV to Knoxville to make their home here as well. I can't tell you how happy we are to be here. Things are not the same in the awesome church in LA. We live in an incredible house here that was a gift from God. When Landon was born I was working for an insurance company. It's a good thing, his hospital bill was over $30,000.00. We paid a $100 copy to cover the whole thing. I could go on and on.
Sometimes it is fun to think about what might have been, but who wants to live in the past? I can't wait to see what the rest of today is going to bring.
It was three years ago around this time that we were candidating at a church in Louisiana. The church was awesome. The guy I would be working directly under was awesome. Even though it was 12 hours from my home, and 20 hours away from Leah's family, we had made up our mind that if they offer the position, we were going. I still remember the phone call I received telling me that they did not think I had the experience necessary for the position they had open. We were crushed. I struggled for a couple of weeks after that call. I was hurt.
Three years later now I am teaching at Grace Christian Academy in Knoxville, close to home. Leah's parents have moved from WV to Knoxville to make their home here as well. I can't tell you how happy we are to be here. Things are not the same in the awesome church in LA. We live in an incredible house here that was a gift from God. When Landon was born I was working for an insurance company. It's a good thing, his hospital bill was over $30,000.00. We paid a $100 copy to cover the whole thing. I could go on and on.
Sometimes it is fun to think about what might have been, but who wants to live in the past? I can't wait to see what the rest of today is going to bring.
Tuesday, May 20, 2008
The Art Of Thankgiving
We live in a society that does not say "Thank you" often. I work with high school students everyday. I pour my life into theirs trying to teach them not only about History and Bible, but life as well. I have received 5 "Thank you" notes/emails from parents/students this year.
I often wonder how God must feel. How often do I fail to say "Thank you" for all He has done for me. I do not want to live a thankless life towards Him and others. I read this article, "The Art of Thanksgiving" this morning and I thought I would share it with you!
The art of thanksgiving is thanksliving. It is gratitude in action. It is applying Albert
Schweitzer’s philosophy: “in gratitude for you own good fortune you must render in
return some sacrifice of your life for other life.”
It is thanking God for the gift of life by living in triumphantly.
It is thanking God for your talents and abilities by accepting them as obligations to be
invested for the common good.
It is thanking God for all that men and women have done for you by doing things for
others.
It is thanking God for opportunities by accepting them as a challenge and achievement.
It is thanking God for happiness by striving to make others happy.
It is thanking God for inspiration by trying to be an inspiration to others.
It is thanking God for the creative ideas that enrich life by adding your own creative contributions to human progress.
It is thanking God for each new day by living it to the fullest.
It is thanking God by giving hands, arms, legs and voice to your thankful spirit.
It is adding to your prayers of thanksgiving, acts of thanksgiving.
So, who do you need to say "Thank you" to today?
I often wonder how God must feel. How often do I fail to say "Thank you" for all He has done for me. I do not want to live a thankless life towards Him and others. I read this article, "The Art of Thanksgiving" this morning and I thought I would share it with you!
The art of thanksgiving is thanksliving. It is gratitude in action. It is applying Albert
Schweitzer’s philosophy: “in gratitude for you own good fortune you must render in
return some sacrifice of your life for other life.”
It is thanking God for the gift of life by living in triumphantly.
It is thanking God for your talents and abilities by accepting them as obligations to be
invested for the common good.
It is thanking God for all that men and women have done for you by doing things for
others.
It is thanking God for opportunities by accepting them as a challenge and achievement.
It is thanking God for happiness by striving to make others happy.
It is thanking God for inspiration by trying to be an inspiration to others.
It is thanking God for the creative ideas that enrich life by adding your own creative contributions to human progress.
It is thanking God for each new day by living it to the fullest.
It is thanking God by giving hands, arms, legs and voice to your thankful spirit.
It is adding to your prayers of thanksgiving, acts of thanksgiving.
So, who do you need to say "Thank you" to today?
Thursday, May 15, 2008
Greater Things Are Still to Come
Leah and I are active in the student ministry at our church. Last night, as we were worshiping along with the students we sang the song, "God of this city" by Chris Tomlin. Here are the lyrics:
You’re the God of this city
You’re the King of these people
You’re the Lord of this nation
You are
You’re the light in this darkness
You’re the hope to the hopeless
You’re the peace to the restless
You are
For there is no-one like our God
There is no-one like our God
Greater things have yet to come
Greater things are still to be done
In this city
Greater things have yet to come
And greater things have still to be done here
You’re the Lord of creation
The creator of all things
You’re the King above all kings
You’re the strength in the weakness
You’re the love to the broken
You’re the joy in the sadness
Greater things have yet to come
Greater things have still to be done
In this city
Where glory shines from hearts alive
With praise for You and
Love for you in this city
I couldn't help but shed a tear. I can't wait to see what God is going to do in Knoxville in the next 5-10 years! I know He is going to do "Great things in THIS city" through people who are willing to follow Him and do what He says! Are you going to be a part of His great movement? My prayer every day is that God will allow me to be part of the next GREAT movement for Him in this city, my city...Knoxville!
You’re the God of this city
You’re the King of these people
You’re the Lord of this nation
You are
You’re the light in this darkness
You’re the hope to the hopeless
You’re the peace to the restless
You are
For there is no-one like our God
There is no-one like our God
Greater things have yet to come
Greater things are still to be done
In this city
Greater things have yet to come
And greater things have still to be done here
You’re the Lord of creation
The creator of all things
You’re the King above all kings
You’re the strength in the weakness
You’re the love to the broken
You’re the joy in the sadness
Greater things have yet to come
Greater things have still to be done
In this city
Where glory shines from hearts alive
With praise for You and
Love for you in this city
I couldn't help but shed a tear. I can't wait to see what God is going to do in Knoxville in the next 5-10 years! I know He is going to do "Great things in THIS city" through people who are willing to follow Him and do what He says! Are you going to be a part of His great movement? My prayer every day is that God will allow me to be part of the next GREAT movement for Him in this city, my city...Knoxville!
Tuesday, May 6, 2008
Tim Tebow...And Jesus
Tim Tebow is the quarterback for the University of Florida Gators. I am a University of Tennessee Volunteers football fan. The two schools, and their fans, don't like each other...especially in September when the two schools meet on the gridiron. Normally, the winner of this game ends up in Atlanta for a chance at the SEC football championship. There has been more than one occasion when the Gators have shattered our dreams of ending up in Atlanta. Tim Tebow is good. He won college football's most prestigious trophy...as a sophomore. That is impressive; however, I am not a Gator fan.
After reading THIS article, I am now a HUGE Tim Tebow fan. Why is this? Just click on the link and read for yourself. It is a wonderful article about how Tim uses he free time and, now fame to spread the good news of the Gospel. And for that I stand, clap my hands and say, "Way to go Tim. You da man!"
After reading THIS article, I am now a HUGE Tim Tebow fan. Why is this? Just click on the link and read for yourself. It is a wonderful article about how Tim uses he free time and, now fame to spread the good news of the Gospel. And for that I stand, clap my hands and say, "Way to go Tim. You da man!"
Monday, May 5, 2008
No Need To Be Nervous
The following is a note that Leah posted on her Facebook page before Landon was born. I think she is handling her son just fine! :)
I have to say that while I am SO happy and excited to be having a little boy in March, the fact that it's a boy is starting to make me nervous... For those of you who don't know, I grew up with one sister. No boys in our house except for my Dad. So I'm kind of wondering now...what am I gonna do with a little boy? I've saved all my My Little Pony, Care Bears, and dolls...but those aren't exactly gonna work out for Landon, now are they? I've also got all my childhood favorite movies: "Annie", "Beauty and the Beast," (and of course every other Disney movie made) and "Charlottes Web." Somehow I doubt that Landon will be as emotionally moved when Charlotte dies as I was as a little girl. So it's time for me to start learning some new games and brushing up on...boy stuff. (See I don't even know what it is!) I'm sure Craig will put a ball in his hands and teach him all about that (Lord, let him have Craig's ability and not my lack thereof.) But I'm sure that Landon and I will have our special moments too. After all, boys still like to color pictures, take walks on beautiful fall days to collect cool leaves, stir the batter and eat half of the cookie dough before you get any chocolate chip cookies in the oven, and be silly while dancing around to crazy songs. And those are just a few of the things I dream of doing with this, my firstborn child...my son.
I have to say that while I am SO happy and excited to be having a little boy in March, the fact that it's a boy is starting to make me nervous... For those of you who don't know, I grew up with one sister. No boys in our house except for my Dad. So I'm kind of wondering now...what am I gonna do with a little boy? I've saved all my My Little Pony, Care Bears, and dolls...but those aren't exactly gonna work out for Landon, now are they? I've also got all my childhood favorite movies: "Annie", "Beauty and the Beast," (and of course every other Disney movie made) and "Charlottes Web." Somehow I doubt that Landon will be as emotionally moved when Charlotte dies as I was as a little girl. So it's time for me to start learning some new games and brushing up on...boy stuff. (See I don't even know what it is!) I'm sure Craig will put a ball in his hands and teach him all about that (Lord, let him have Craig's ability and not my lack thereof.) But I'm sure that Landon and I will have our special moments too. After all, boys still like to color pictures, take walks on beautiful fall days to collect cool leaves, stir the batter and eat half of the cookie dough before you get any chocolate chip cookies in the oven, and be silly while dancing around to crazy songs. And those are just a few of the things I dream of doing with this, my firstborn child...my son.
Friday, May 2, 2008
God Was Up All Night
Let me give you some encouragement with my reading this morning from Psalm 121:2-3, "My help comes from the Lord, who made heaven and earth. He will not let your foot be moved, he who keeps you will not slumber." The one who gives us help NEVER sleeps. He stays up all night! Do you need help? I know I do. Isn't it encouraging to know that God has an eagerness to work for us? He is looking high and lo for opportunities to help those who trust Him (2 Chronicles 16:9). He is not just waiting for us to get His help, He is seeking ways to give us help (Jer. 32:40-41)! With all His heart and soul He works for those that trust in Him. What a truth! God is up all night and day working for those who wait for Him!
Thursday, May 1, 2008
Get Away...Alone
A couple of post ago, I spoke briefly about our family vacation that Leah and Landon and I just returned from. In that post I mentioned that, while it was fun to get away for a few days, Leah and I did not have the same connection on this vacation as we have had in vacations past.
We loved watching out first born test the ocean waters for the first time in his life. The day at the Magic Kingdom was unforgettable...he enjoyed everything except for the Philhar Magic show with Donald Duck. His face showed the awe of an innocent child as he watched the birds fly above us. Who would have guess that his favorite thing to do all week was ride the elevator? Watching him trying to get the sand out of his mouth was one of the funniest things he has ever done (I wish I had a video of that). Our time with him was priceless. I can't wait to do it again next year. However...
I missed time with Leah. Yes, she was there, but she and I were more occupied with Landon than with each other. As far as our time together goes...the ride there and back was my favorite. Landon slept most of the time in the car and Leah and I were able to just, talk. It was nice. Conversation like that, for some reason, rarely happens at home. That time is filled with questions like, "How was your day? Did Landon take a good nap? Did you see the phone bill? Who were you talking/texting with?" I think it is important that we make it a priority to take time away with just our spouse...without the kids! It provides a wonderful time of refreshment and energy for a marriage. It is a MUST! Leah, I can't wait to get away by ourselves. I promise...soon!
We loved watching out first born test the ocean waters for the first time in his life. The day at the Magic Kingdom was unforgettable...he enjoyed everything except for the Philhar Magic show with Donald Duck. His face showed the awe of an innocent child as he watched the birds fly above us. Who would have guess that his favorite thing to do all week was ride the elevator? Watching him trying to get the sand out of his mouth was one of the funniest things he has ever done (I wish I had a video of that). Our time with him was priceless. I can't wait to do it again next year. However...
I missed time with Leah. Yes, she was there, but she and I were more occupied with Landon than with each other. As far as our time together goes...the ride there and back was my favorite. Landon slept most of the time in the car and Leah and I were able to just, talk. It was nice. Conversation like that, for some reason, rarely happens at home. That time is filled with questions like, "How was your day? Did Landon take a good nap? Did you see the phone bill? Who were you talking/texting with?" I think it is important that we make it a priority to take time away with just our spouse...without the kids! It provides a wonderful time of refreshment and energy for a marriage. It is a MUST! Leah, I can't wait to get away by ourselves. I promise...soon!
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