Guabi Guabi

A good one!



I love that little blondie!

Big World, Small World

This past Saturday I experienced a big world become small and make a large impact.

A church that is way far away (Hillsong Church, Sydney Australia) 15,551 miles away
launched a new location this past Sunday (New York City) 1,555 miles away

So after church Saturday night we went down the street to eat with some friends (Chili's) 2 miles away

At dinner we started talking about churches that we would like to visit. One of my answers was the new Hillsong campus in NYC.

And that is when it happened!

The guy that we were eating with took out his iPhone and started texting like a mad man. I didn't know what he was doing at the time. But with a huge grin on his face he looked up and said that his sister and his father were going to go to the launch of Hillsong NYC the next day.

Wow. Via the Internet. Across a few oceans. All in a few short minutes. Someone was informed, invited, and going to attend a church the next day. I still am having a hard time concepting the magnitude of what all was in place and the simplicity of the simple conversation over a burger and fries that made it happen.

God is good and His timing is perfect.

A Peek Into Our Crazy Life

This may look like a random picture but let me explain. Today I cleaned out the back seat of the car and these are the items that emerged. What you can't see is the bag of trash that came out, these are the real items:

9 pairs of shoes
1 clothes hanger
all the closing paperwork from our home refinance
6 snack bowls
1 sippy cup
Dallas Cowboys coozie
Hair accessories (headband, 8 pony tail holders, 4 bows)
2 books
approx. 6 pairs of dirty socks
1 watch
1 bracelet
4 silly bandz

Keep in mind these are the things that are NOT supposed to be in the car. We do have a small toy box that we keep in there for toys that stay in the car. In there we have a few books, dolls, and some small toys to keep their intrest on the road.
This is kinda embarrassing but it is real.
Now we have a clean car inside and out to sport around town this weekend.

Oh Canada

Last night the Rangers won the ALDS! Go Rangers!! Antlers Up!

Then afterward there was a super classy act done by the team. When I heard the story I couldn't quit thinking about how awesome it was that not only the team did it, but they had to go out of their way to get it done. Josh Hamilton sat out of the champagne celebration when the team won the division because of his alcohol addiction. It was just not a place that he needed to put himself in. So as a team last night they did the time honored tradition again (and rightfully so), Hamilton again sat out. This time though someone asked him to come in the locker room the guys had something for him. He admittedly was nervous. Then the guys did the entire celebration again with Ginger Ale so that they could do it as an entire team. Amazing!!

Now on a related Canadian connection, where can I get some of these:

Remember those? I have put down many of those yummy bottles. And now I need more.

Versus

I have been a blog slacker for a while. But for good reason. I have been getting ready for and experiencing the greatest men's conference ever!! Here are a few pics to show you a glimpse:

The Opener:

(included full SWAT team dropping out of the ceiling)

Worship Night 1:

Real MEN raising their hands in full surrender to God

Man Sports:

Bad picture of tug-o-war

(didn't get pictures of the arm wrestling, ice cream eating, or slam dunk contest)

1st ever FC Fight Night:

Those are real punches... 2 KOs and 1 broke nose that night.

Push Up Contest:

With a drill instructor on a microphone.

Car Show:

Phantom:

Ferrari:

And then there were sporting contest to challenge your friends:

And maybe I ran that thing:

Final Worship Set:
Men's Conference not complete without Pyrotechnics and power tools

Kevin Gerald:

Bringing a strong word about The Harvest

Pastor Ed Young & Kevin Gerald:

Doing a man's Q&A to wrap it all up

What can never be captured in pictures is the pure energy that was in the room. (also the smell) It was an amazing couple of days that I hope will shape me into a stronger man. Next years dates are already set and I am making sure I am there to do it all over again!

Backhanded Compliment

Here's the back story: There is a men's conference at church next weekend. It is the first ever so everyone is trying to throw the testosterone around pretty thick up there. One of the things that many of the guys are doing is not shaving until the conference. So what did I do? I took that challenge (kinda.) We all know that there is no way I could ever grow full facial hair. It would look like a hot mess. So I told Mandi that I was doing it just to get a rise out of her. I haven't shaved since Tuesday when I went to work. And just as I thought, it is nasty. So while she is at work today I will shave it off. She will be thrilled.

So here is the compliment, even though it was not intended that way: Last night when she got home from work she was on one couch and I was on the other. Then she looked at me and said, "You need to shave, your face looks like you have dirt on it." There it is! Many wouldn't see the silver lining there but I did. She noticed my scruff from across the living room. Mission accomplished!

p.s. I'm thinking about leaving the stash as a tribute to Dan Stark. If you don't know who Dan Stark is shame on you. He is one of the cops on the new series Good Guys on Fox. Great show.