10 Long Years...

The M.R.S. and I turned 10 today (9/26). No, not as in dog years, but as in ten years ago today we were buried in watery graves and came up as new creations, begotten children of God. I remember feeling slightly dismayed, as I was expecting to feel extraordinarily different when Mrs. Poole and Wren lifted me out of the pool (even though I was told that I wouldn’t beforehand). I can look back and see some of the changes I’ve made in many areas of my life. I can also look back and see many areas in which I’ve only grown a little. I’ve learned that God’s way is simple, but in this world it’s certainly not easy. Far too often I lean on my own understanding, and far too often I struggle with doing what’s right. Far too often I wonder what my neighbors, friends, and family think about how I’m living my life. However, it is comforting to know that for some reason unbeknownst to me, God looked down and saw something in me that He could use. Mr. Ehman gave a wonderful sermon last week on finding and using our strengths/talents that was quite uplifting, and helped me to remember that despite my shortcomings, if I just hang in there and keep on truckin’ till the end I will receive my new name and my new body, just like that great cloud of witnesses of Hebrews 11 fame. Hopefully, 10 years from now I will not still be struggling with the same problems I'm struggling with now.

Funny (to me, anyway)

One day at work the subject of church came up, and people were pretty surprised to find out I attend church on Saturdays (even though I mentioned it before). One of my co-workers mentioned that his family is trying to find a church in the area. He mentioned that he pretty much only goes to church a couple of times a year; Christmas, Easter, and before CLEMSON BOWL GAMES. I thought that was hilarious.

Some Biblical Principles of Judgment and Justice

Mr. Ray Clore gave a sermon at the last year's Feast titled “Some Biblical Principles of Judgment and Justice”. That sermon still resonates with me today, and I found myself deeply moved by the wisdom inherent in the application of the Bible to the code of law. I also recently read an essay by Stephen Chapman titled “The Prisoner’s Dilemma”which compares the application of justice as prescribed by the Koran to justice as dispensed by Western nations. The author noted that while everyone he polled thought that the Islamic punishments were cruel and barbaric, they also preferred the short duration to the giving up of years of freedom as we do here in the states. He comes to the conclusion that while our justice system allows us to feel “smugly self-congratulatory”, it is equally, if not more, barbaric. I have a friend who used to work in the penal system – he’s fully convinced that anyone who’s been in jail for 10 years or more should never be let out. He believes that they’ve become so hardened after that much time in violent, sadistic surroundings that they’re rarely able to be "normal" again. Anyway, if you get the chance to download or check this sermon out, I think it would be well worth your while. According to my notes here are the principles Mr. Clore discussed in his sermon.

1. Go to Brother first
2. Transparency – to be effective, justice must also appear to be just to all
3. “Two or three witnesses” principle to establish truth
4. Fair and impartial judges
5. Do Diligent inquiry to be certain of truth
6. Arrange for accused to face the accusers
7. Do not allow “mob justice”
8. Search for/determine motive for action
9. Use of Biblical standards to determine sin or as foundation for civil laws
10. Caution against collective punishment
11. Criminal should make amends for crime as much as possible
12. Respect the judges/rulers
13. Always consider if mercy is appropriate after a determination of guilt is made
14. Punishment must be swift to be effective
15. Punishment in public for major sins/crimes, so “all Israel will hear and fear”

FoT revisited

Looks like someone in IT let the firewall go down and I can actually post...

Looks like it's gonna be Branson, MO for the Feast this year. We've got quite a few friends attending there, most of whom we haven't seen in a while. Now how do we divvy up the time so no one gets left out? Hmmmm.... I don't know who else is on the speaking schedule, but I know we'll get to hear from Mr. Smith and Mr. Millich. As much as I'm not excited by the locale, I can't wait to hear the messages.

The M.R.S. is now a bona fide Medical Assistant in search of a job. The kids are growing like weeds. The littlest one is now 14 months old and has developed quite a personality. She's almost always happy, and I think she has a tapeworm. I mean, she eats, and she eats, and she eats some more! I don't recall any of her brothers having the appetite she has. I've got to watch her to make sure she doesn't turn into a roly-poly. Noah, is all boy, rough-and-tumble. Nicholas is going through a phase right now that he needs to emerge from real soon. Jalen is a sophomore @ one of the local high schools, and is excited about starting @ defensive tackle this year. Obviously I won't get to see him play in person much if at all, so I'm gonna see if I can get copies of the game on tape or DVD from the coaching staff. I'm still making the 40-mile commute to the job and we're looking to move once the M.R.S. finds a job. Anybody out there got some Powdersville real estate they're looking to unload?

That's about it for now. Yall take care!

Oh - Ben/Summer, we're looking forward to seeing you this weekend!

Mission Accomplished!

FoT

For what it's worth, New Braunfels is in the early lead as the Palmer site of choice. Actually, Ocho Rios is the favorite but the chances of us making it there this year are basically nil. Sunset Beach would be much more convenient though, and I think it's going to be a huge site. We'll see. Anyone else thinking of Texas?

*crickets*

May 9 '08

Well, I was gonna try and post an update, but I just found out that two someones close to me are getting married! I'll restrain myself and not call, seeing as how it's after midnight; I guess I'll get filled in next week. AV, we must do lunch one day next week. Well, since I'm here I guess I will provide a brief update.

Things are going OK for my clan. I'm 98% certain we'll be moving to Greenville this summer - $3.45 a gallon gas is making my ~80-mile round trip to work a tad expensive. One big thing that's happened is that I had my first Sabbath test @ work recently. My shift was being required to work Saturdays, but after prayer and meditation (mine and other brethren's) I sent an email to my supervisor requesting an exemption for religious reasons. I was prepared to provide a statement of beliefs, a letter from my pastor, as well as legal and Scriptural support for my position. My supervisor's supervisor, human resources, and our corporate office all eventually became involved - with most of this occurring behind the scenes without my knowledge. Finally, I was called into a meeting with the department manager, and I was informed that they would gladly work with me after ascertaining my beliefs were sincerely held. After a couple of questions, the dep. manager signed off on the exemption and actually praised my handling of the situation. Apparently, conflict resolution is a major problem at my place of employment, and all parties were glad to see that I was not at all belligerent and that I followed the chain of command for such resolution. In short, the meeting went QUITE well and I do not have to work on the Sabbath. Thanks to all who prayed about this situation.

The spring dance/weekend we had went well. It was nice to play host to brethren from other areas - some of whom came from as far as California, Calgary, and Rhode Island. I hope they all enjoyed themselves and will return if we do this next year.
Well, it's late and I need to get some sleep. I've got to get up early in the morning. Enjoy your Sabbath.

Copper River Grill

Taken 1/9/08. The four young'uns after dinner at a local eatery.

A return to civilization?

I see that AT&T has dropped its price again on internet access. They may have reeled me in this time...

Maryland v. Duke

Go MARYLAND!!!

Yes, I'm actually online (I'm supposed to be working on an assignment for an online class I'm taking). The M.R.S. and I are considering some internet options for the home; I'm tired of being cut off from civilization.

Way to let Duke back in the game, MD.

EDIT: Way to let Duke WIN the game, MD.

I'm pretending the Cowboys won today

It's been a month since I posted anything? Boy I'm slack.

I've settled back into my pre-Feast routine now, unfortunately. I'm already starting to get the fever for next year. I'll post more about the spiritual meat I enjoyed at the Feast, but first I'd like to express a heartfelt thanks to those of you who really helped my and my family enjoy our time in Myrtle Beach. A special thanks to the young couple who allowed the M.R.S. and I to go on a date to celebrate our 9th anniversary. Beef ribs are a wonderful anniversary meal, might I add. Nothing like a loving couple sucking their teeth as they reflect on where they've been and where they're going. Tony Roma's made a killing on beef ribs during the feast. I spoke with one of the managers mid-Feast after they'd run out, and he was perplexed by the sudden surge in beef rib orders. (It was kinda funny. I bet he'll be prepared next year!) We enlightened him about the 1200+ non-baby-back-rib eaters who'd infiltrated his town, and he made sure to increase his order for the remainder of the Feast (they still ran out again on the evening portion of the Last Great Day).

Noah was glad that he got to see his shark-fish. Oh, and we saw a live shark attacking a school of fish one day while we were playing on the beach. And no, Aaron, it was not a porpoise.

And I met the Kerr.

Feast Fever...

...is very real.

Sept. 11

I was going to post the new professional pics of the kids, but Blogger is being uncooperative.

Oh, and HOW BOUT THEM COWBOYS? (The offense, anyway.)

Just got my days for the Feast confirmed. Since I'm a temp I will not be getting paid, but hey, c'est la vie. I think my folks are gonna come over to see Nyla receive the blessing of the little children. I should probably inform them that our services are a wee bit different than what they're accustomed to. They'll probably think that services are letting out right after the sermonette and song. Maybe I'll have a little fun and not tell them that sermons are in the 1-hour-plus range. Yeah, that sounds like a plan. Ain't I a stinker?

I was going to post some of my reflections on this day of remembrance, but I think I'll save that for a later time.

I don't like firewalls

I guess I'm going to have to make a decision pretty soon - either go by my PC at school more often, or switch over to Wordpress. I apologize to all one of you who hangs on my every written word. I will do better.

I've recently begun listening to and reading Dave Ramsey's material. He dispenses financial information and is a firm believer in the proverb that states "the borrower is servant to the lender". He absolutely detests debt of any kind. I brought his book "Total Money Makeover" to give to my brother Monday (he was up for the FSU game); lo and behold, lil bro had a set of Dave's Financial Peace CDs. Great minds, eh? I'm going to try to implement Dave's ideas to get out of debt and gain control of our finances. So, if we turn down any invitations to hit a restaurant in the near future, don't be offended. It's me, not you. *floating the idea of a weekly church potluck*

And FSU did it to me again. If they had simply rolled over and played dead, I could've gone to bed at a reasonable hour and not been struggling so hard at work Tuesday. But no, they had to go and make the game semi-close, FORCING me to watch until the bitter, bitter end.

I just found out my oldest son weighs 254 lbs. I think piggy-back rides are now out of the question.

Best. Photoshop. Ever.

I just wish it was bigger. Image courtesy of www.deadspin.com.

Brief convo

Conversation with Nick on our way home from church Saturday...

Nick: "Dad, if I'm good, will you take me to the movies?"

Me: "Sure, Nick. Just when do you think you'll be good?"

N: "I don't know. Maybe Monday."

Me: "Monday? Why not tomorrow?"

N: (Anticipating seeing his cousins on his weekly Sunday trip to Grandma's) "Well, you know how I get when I see my cousins."

The M.R.S. and I exchange that's-your-son looks.

8/8/07

Me & my olive plants.

Oh how I have missed thee, Blogger

One of my wife’s relatives is a former U.S. Marshal, and still maintains a lot of government contacts, particularly in the Federal Law Enforcement arena. He was home over the weekend, and we got to talkin’ about what I do, which led to him strongly encouraging me to apply for a forensic chemistry job with a federal agency (I don’t want to say which agency). He has some contacts with the directors of some of the laboratories and that could be the foot-in-the-door I need. I don’t think I’m quite ready for that yet, but I’m filing that reference away for possible future use. From what I hear, Fed jobs have great benefits. Is increasing concern about benefits a sign of aging?

After a wonderful post-fast meal prepared by a certain awkward-hipped young man in our congregation (along with help from the girls Burdette), me and the fam were leisurely driving home and decided to take the scenic route home (Hwy 93 instead of 123) when I was stopped by those who protect and serve; Liberty, South Carolina’s finest. At 12:15 a.m. Fifteen minutes after my driver’s license expired. Going 47 in a 35. The officers were quite polite, and let me go with a warning. Prayer works.

The driver’s license situation was rectified as soon as the DMV opened up this morning.

8/5/07

August 13 picnic

I hear we're having a church picnic 8/12 with the possibility of a softball game breaking out. Does that give me enough time to reap any benefits from "The Cream" and "The Clear"? After all, the rumor is "Chicks dig the long ball"...

Blogger is blocked at work...

... or I'd update more often.

I interview Tuesday for a full-time chemist position instead of this temporary one I hold. If I get it, that would mean I'd have a four-day work week at the company and have 2 full days to get work done here at school, plus evenings. And I'd get benefits. So far they've accommodated my desire to observe the Sabbath, and they've given every indication that they would continue to do so. I guess I shouldn't screw this up.

Jalen and I had a nice long lunch Wednesday, and we both got to unload a bunch of feelings that had been kept inside. Without going into detail, things are looking up as far as our relationship is concerned. I'm eager to put these past two years behind us and move ahead... I was shocked by how deep his voice sounded when he answered the phone. My first-born is no longer a little boy.

The more I work in Greenville, the more I like the city. If I moved to the Woodruff road area and kept the same job, I'd never have to leave my neighborhood. EVERYTHING I could possible need is in the vicinity. If the county ever decides to open their new crime lab, I could probably be persuaded to stick around.

My favorite picture from the trip home - mother & daughter.