November 25th

Was a great day because my favorite artist released a new CD.
That would be Jeremy Camp in case you are wondering.
If you don't know who he is, check him and his story out.
I have to give this CD props because normally I don't like anything at first but the song "Surrender" is one of my favorite songs of all time already.

My Ode to the Chocolate Chip Cookie

You are so sweet
You are my favorite treat.
You are delicious right out of the oven
With milk that is so very cold
You are a pleasure divine
Everyday I could eat 29

Give Thanks

It is November, so Thanksgiving is on my mind. With that in mind, I present the following:

Psalm 118:1

118:1
O give thanks unto the LORD; for [he is] good: because his mercy [endureth] for ever.

Although I often do not enjoy my job, Thank you that I have a job.
Thank you for wonderful days that have perfect weather, and places to sit outside and eat and enjoy the weather.
Thank you for my church, and a pastor that preaches the Word.
Thank you for my friends who mean a lot to me, even if i do not let them know near enough.
Thank you for never giving up on me, even if I give up on you.
Thank you for baseball.
Thank you for books.
Thank you for chocolate chip cookies.
Thank you for music.
Thank you for letting me learn that there is nothing more important in life than learning you will never leave me or forsake me.
Thank you for summer.
Thank you for winter, it makes me appreciate the summer even more.
Thank you for sports and people to play them with.
Thank you for answering prayers, and thank you for the prayers I am still waiting to be answered.
Thank you for online sermons and the access to hear the word at any time.
Thank you for rainy days.
Thank you for giving me the desire in my heart to be a godly man and one day lead a godly family in spite of the example that was set. Thank you for letting me know that is possible, because anything is possible through Christ.
Thank you for my nieces and nephews.
Thank you for a peace that passes understanding and can only come from knowing you.
Thank you that when I was ready to give up on my faith, the right people came along.
Thank you for Nehemiah 9, that is a great reminder of the faithful God, even if I am not faithful.
Thank you for humorous TV shows that make us laugh.
Thank you that Philipians reminds me that since you have started a good work in me, and since you started that work, you will not stop until it is complete.
Thank you for vacations.
Thank you for leaving the 99 and searching for the 1, for we are all the 1 at sometimes.

Who will save us?

Monday, November 10th

The election is finally over!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Regardless of what side you are for, you have to be relieved that this election season has finally ended. There are some people who say that our country is in a lot of trouble. The same people are counting on president elect Barack Obama to save us. There are others who hoped that John McCain would save us. I think we all need to take a moment and realize neither man can save the country. Will President Obama solve all of our problems? Assuredly, he will not. Would John Mccain solve all of our problems? Assuredly, he would not. The problem is not presidential. The problem is spiritual. Some suggest that one or the other would do a better job leading America according to Biblical principles. I do not see a lot from either that would give me great comfort that either man is a devoted follower of Jesus Christ. One claims to be a Christian, the other a Christian, but not the born again type (that is the only type of Christian).

All of this reminds me of the following:

speaking of Jesus in Acts 4

v 12: "And there is salvation in no one else; for there is no other name under heaven that has been given among men by which we must be saved."

I know that in context this is speaking of our eternal salvation, but lets apply it to our lives in the here and now.

No politician can save us, only the name of the Living God, whose name is Jesus, can save us.
Christians, lets all work to be concerned with the proclamation about Jesus and who he is, than with pointing out all that is wrong with the current leaders.

Cravings by McManus

"We are born to belong, we are created for connection, and whether we admit it to ourselves or not, we spend our whole lives trying to fit in, get in, and stay in. It almost doesn't even matter what "in" is; we just want to belong somewhere."
--Erwin McManus Entry 14 in his book Cravings

Isn't it odd when you are reading a book and it just somehow applies to your life?

Republican or Democrat

Well, it is almost election time and I am going to weigh in. I am very interested in politics, but due to the people who are really involved in the politics, my interest is waning. If you are wanting to know what candidate I think is best, well don't ask me. I don't think either of the candidates are great. Here is what gets me about politics, why must everyone be so hateful and lose all objectivity when it comes to this matter? I have friends who are republicans and they will send me the 238 lies and contradictions of B. Obama. I have friends who are democrats and they will usually follow up with the 239 lies of McCain. Is there anyone out there who will just present the case for what they stand for. I am really not as interested in how much you hate the other candidate as I am in what you stand for. Also, as a Christian, I do not think that just because someone is a Christian that will make them a good politician. Anyway, I wish politics was a much more agreeable presentation of ideas. I would really enjoy a debate of ideas and why one person is for each idea, but I can not stand the mandate to make the other person look like an idiot......

Texas Rangers

I am about to convince you why the Texas Rangers will win the World Series. This may be the longest blog I will write. I am doing it now because my baseballe excitement is winding down as the football season kicks into gear. I have been a long suffering Ranger fan since I was old enough to know what baseball was. I am such a baseball fan that when I was young I used to fake stomach aches so I could stay home and watch the Cubs or Braves. Now, as an adult my 3 most recent vacations were centered around seeing baseball games. You might say I am a fanatic (fan for short). Well, if you know anything about baseball, you know that the Texas Rangers do not have a storied history. They have been playing Major League Baseball in Arlington, Tx since 1972 (allegedly). I was born in 1978 and shortly thereafter I became a Ranger fan. I have no idea why this is, but I just loved baseball for as long as I can remember. I can play catch or home run derby for hours and hours (Yes, that is pathetic, but that is the way it is). The Rangers have treated me to exactly one Playoff win. Now, if you are a baseball fan you know that it takes at minimum 3 to win a playoff series. The Rangers are 1-9 in playoff games, all against the stupid Yankees. Well, many local fans have turned their allegiance to other teams or just give up hope on the lowly rangers. Not me, I will never give up on this team. Each year, about this time I get very dissapointed and say I will probably not watch as much next year, but as soon as the opening day tickets go on sale I will be giving my money to this team who has brought me nothing in return. Why, you may ask? I guess Baseball is my drug and I am truly addicted.

Here is why the Rangers will win the World Series in the Next 10 years.
1. They finally have a plan and seem to be sticking to it. We need more pitching has been the motto of the Rangers since their inception. Usually, if we have a good pitcher we give him to another team for free. The following names are former Rangers....Chris Young, Edinson Volquez, John Danks, Aaron Harang, Justin Durchsherer, Armando Galaraga and I am sure there are more but that is off the top of my head. All of these guys are having tremendous seasons as pitchers, but not for my beloved Texas Rangers.

I think they have finally started to develop some pitchers and hope they can keep them.
I think we have a championship rotation in the Minors if they are allowed to develop. Remember the following names:

1. Neftali Feliz (thank you Mark Teixera and the Braves)
2. Derek Holland
--If you want to get excited go to Milb.com and look at the numbers of these 2 guys, they are coming and they are my 2 favorite prospects. Of course, I thought Juan Dominguez had something too and you probably don't remember him.

Those are two guys with ace potential, but the real reason for optimism is the following list

1. Eric Hurley
2. Matt Harrison
3. Michael Main
4. Blake Beavan
5. Tommy Hunter
6. Neil Ramirez
7. Kasey Kiker
8. Brandon McCarthy (maybe, I am losing interest quickly)
9. Carlos Pimentel (he is several years away.

These guys are all pitchers and we need to have 5 good ones. I know I am missing a few, but the more you run out there the better your odds of finding one.

I think the Pitching is coming but soon we will see.

Now, we need to get to the rest of the team. The following is the lineup I think may get us there

1. Julio Borbon CF
2. Michael Young 3b
3. Josh Hamilton RF
4. Ian Kinsler 2B
5. Chris Davis/Justin Smoak 1B (One will be traded for Pitching)
6. Max Ramirez DH
7. Boggs/Murphy LF Platoon
8. Taylor Teagarden C
9. Elvis Andrus SS

UIF Jose Vallejo
4th Of TBD

Now this leaves out the bullpen, but that will work itself out.
Will the Rangers ever win the Series? Yes, at least that is what i tell myself every March.