I've Been Wondering

How much of our brain are we suppose to use. I mean, what did God intend? Some experts say we use about 5% of our total capacity. Those stats remind me of Homer Simpson. Are we destined to walk around like Homer Simpson?

But I want to focus more on our life in relation to God. How many of you pray about most things in your life? Let me give a couple of examples. Are you the type who might be caught saying "Lord, help me decide if I should get the OJ or coffee this morning at the gas station?" OK, sorry for the bad example. Perhaps you pray "Lord, should I get this dvd player or save my money for now?" Still not serious enough? How about praying about buying a new vehicle? A new house?

I use to argue that our walk should be spiritual and that God wants to be involved or consulted on every decision. However, my stance never addressed the problem of not hearing God talk back. A good friend of mine understands the bible to be God's complete will for our life. Emphasis on complete. Ooo, we use to go around and around about this. However, I am coming around to his point of view.

I think there are those who may need to feel God is in every aspect of their life. Is this a crutch? Is this a bad thing? I have no idea. However, I don't guess I've ever heard God whisper in my ear. So I've quit asking. But, I can tell you there are certain events in my life that have led me down, I believe, God inspired paths. I've been laid off of jobs and as a result, gotten better ones. A great dane I owned led me to my wife. etc etc. I came to the conclusion that God kinda leads me if He needs my direction changed. I feel sorta like a kid learning to ride a bike. You know the picture, where the dad is running behind making sure you don't veer off and get smashed by a garbage truck or something.

So perhaps God wants us to use the brain He gave us. Maybe God says, "you figure it out", or "that's not important." Maybe God wants to be in every aspect of our life. Well, I see a path, and I go. But God kinda nudges me in one way or the other. I guess all I pray is "God, keep me safe and I'm sorry if I screw up." That's all I know to pray.

I am Voltron

I used to love this guy as a kid. Well, I guess it was made of several guys. Anytime something from space would threaten the existence of this planet these guys would come to the rescue. Five different cat robots would fight the enemy, realize they couldn't do it as individuals, so they would join together into this giant robot, yelling "Voltron, defender of the universe!" I loved this cartoon as much as my chocolate chip cookies. I would pretend to slash at my enemies with this "blazing sword" for hours as a kid.

Well, unfortunately for me and those in my wake, I took this same cavalier attitude in my spiritual life. Anytime someone threatened my doctrine or beliefs, it was time to "FORM BLAZING SWORD!" As Voltron would say. I then would chop my enemies down until I felt like Leo Decaprio yelling, "I'm king of the world."

Needless to say (although I'll say it), I had the wrong attitude. Folks, although I have in the past, I don't pretend to know all the right answers. How can I? You see one godly preacher saying and believing one thing, you see another preaching something else. I don't imagine one is any less godly than the other. Yet, each feels spiritually led to a certain conclusion. Something about that forces me to let go of my pride. Which I think is a good thing.

Here's my girl last fall. 

First Timer

My wife and I decided to go to the movies last night. We took our 22mnth old girl with us. It was her first time in the theater. She was so wonderful and such a little person sitting in her seat, drinking her little coke, and eating her popcorn.

What a blessing she is to me. The way she says my name, and hugs my neck, it just makes me melt. Seeing this little thing grow really makes me praise God. I pray that I can be the father I need to be for her.

I'll try getting a picture of her on here.

Commute

Since I have graduated college, I have had a lengthy commute. My first job was an hour and forty minutes (one way) from home. My second job sat an hour and twenty minutes away. My third and current job sits right at an hour away. However, my company just announced it is moving its location into the town I live. Now I'll only be 15min from work.

Hallelujah. I am so sick of commuting for an hour twice a day. This should free up time to exercise, eat lunch with my wife, and will improve my quality of life a bit. Not to mention, save money.

Picture of me at Terlingua. 

Here's a panoramic at a Texas A&M vs OU game from last fall. Digital camaras are really great. 

Back in November, I went on a camping trip to the Terlingua area in south Texas. Here's a nice picture of what we woke up to one morning. 

Here is my wife in the Austin Marathon. I'm in the background "supporting her." 

Holy Moley

Seemed like that's all I said Saturday.

I decided sometime during the week to head to a state park called Palo Duro Canyon. I think it's suppose to be the second largest canyon in the US. Anyway, forecasters predicted a great Saturday, so I decided to go. It's about 2 hours north from where I live but my dad's house is only about 20 minutes from the canyon. So I invited my mom and three younger sisters to go hiking with me. My wife was working so I took my little girl and let dad watch her while we hike.

Well, 6:00 am Saturday morning came with the clock radio in my ear. Holy moley, I felt like my eyes had closed for just a few moments. After a little orange juice and sunlight, I felt much better. So I get to dad's house. The girls were suppose to be waiting for me, but of course, were still half asleep and dragging. Holy moley, it took them forever to get ready.

So we finally get into the canyon and we're gonna hike to the top. I start the hike saying I had seen evidence of cougars, deer, goat, and various other wildlife, but never actually seen the wildlife. Big mistake. No sooner had I said that when on of the girls nearly steps on a snake. Holy moley, but it was just a bull snake, non-poisonous. So later we finally reach the top. That climb took the energy out of me. Another holy moley. After a quick snack we begin walking the rim to make our way back down. I lead the pack and start down this cutaway in a rock wall. I am about ten feet down from the top when something hisses at me. This hiss sounds like a dang wildcat, but I, aware of the surroundings, realize there's no place for a cat to hide here. Which leaves one animal, another snake. So I quickly turn around and start back up the cliff. That's when the rattling starts. I don't know if you have ever heard a rattlesnake's rattle. I have heard a few. It's not a speedy succession of noise, like a baby rattle. A rattler makes a somewhat slow, very distinguished sound. It's cadence is similar to a bartender making a shaken martini. Very calculated, very deliberate. Let's say, when a rattler is rattling, it's not a result of shaking with fear, it's trying to put the fear in you. Well, I would be lying if I told you I only said holy moley. I think an explicit word or two came out of my mouth. Something about snakes really spook me. I would rather encounter a four legged beast than a poisonous snake. I know, I know, the snake is probably more predictable than say a mountain lion. Either way, another holy moley. We eventually find another way down, see a deer on the way, but encounter nothing else. We get to the car, sit in the AC for a moment before leaving. Whew, holy moley that was a workout.

So on the drive back, the conversation turns to Christianity, as it so often does with my family. Well, I told my mom basically what my last couple of posts here have covered. I told her that I don't feel saved, I only have faith. I told her I have questioned much of what I was taught, just so I could be honest with myself. SHE AGREED WITH MUCH OF WHAT I SAID. She told me that her church recently built a gym on the premises. When they were deciding if to build, a person would stand up and say let's pray about it. My mom found that a bit irritating. She didn't think the person would get some holy revelation regarding the gym. She's not questioning God's ability to speak to people through or as a result of prayer. She simply wished people would be honest. Just say you want a gym to play in. Don't hem haw around about it. Don't pretend that you're being led by God to build a gym. Whether or not I agree with that sentiment, I was still amazed. Wow, she stunned me. I never expected that. Holy moley.