I've been a bad blogger lately...

Seems I haven't been on here in a week. Oops! So what's new...well I worked a bunch of hours this week, at least that's my excuse for not posting. :)
I redecorated my bedroom, repainted it, got some new furniture, and changed some stuff around. I'll upload pics and post them soon.
That's pretty much the only exciting thing around here. Just getting ready for Thanksgiving next week. My niece is coming out, I'm so excited to see her. It's been almost 2 months since we've seen her, and I know she's changed alot in that time. :)

Flashback Friday

It's flashback Friday again! For this week's picture I decided to use a picture of my cousin since his birthday is on Sunday. This cousin is special to me, because he is just a few months younger than me. And I don't know if it is because we're so close in age, or some other reason, but we've always had a special bond. We may not talk as much as we should, but I think he knows that I'm always here for him, and I know that if I ever needed anything, he would be there for me. He has struggled in the past, but I think now, maybe he's finally at a place of contentment in his life. I pray for this cousin, for although he was raised in the same Christian faith as me, he made a statement to me in the past, that he didn't really feel like a Christian anymore. I don't know if it was just a momentary feeling, or he still feels this way, but I pray for him. That he walks away from his particular demons, whatever they may be, and finds peace with the Lord. I love ya, Jimmy.

My cousin and my grandma, at my parents house. Based on hairstyles, I'm gonna guess this was sometime around 1991. Christmas.

Veteran's Day

In 1918, on the 11th hour, of the 11th day, of the 11th month of the year, WWI came to an end. November 11th, was proclaimed Armistice Day in honor of the returning soldiers. It was later renamed to Veterans Day to honor soldiers from all wars. Today, we thank our American Soldiers. We cannot be thankful enough for the sacrifices they have made, and continue to make. They are a rare bunch, and make me proud to be an American. No matter where I am, when I see a soldier in uniform, I feel a surge of pride.

And today, I had an idea. Just bear with me here. So I blame alot of today's problems on two things, 1. the failure of the nuclear family. Children today are raised without fathers, and boys don't have strong men to set examples for them. The men my age and younger today, are no better than the boys they were 15 years ago. Seems like they reach age 13 and don't mature any further, and that I blame on the collapse of families today. The other thing that I believe leads to society's problems today,  is an overwhelming attitude of entitlement. People today believe that society owes them something just for being. People don't want to work for anything, they want it handed to them. They think that just because they were born poor, or a minority, that they are deserving of more. And its not just the poor and minorities. I have friends that have been blessed with many things in life, who think their parents should work hard and buy them things. They don't want to go out and work hard on their own. They want a fancy house, fancy cars, fancy clothes, the best new cell phone, all things they can't afford. And they are not grateful for the things they do have, such as a roof over their head, food on the table, and warm clothes when it is cold.
So here's my solution to these problems... mandatory military service. Call me crazy, but it could work. I'm sure if young men had to spend a year in the military, with strong examples set for them on how to behave and act like a man, things would improve. If they had to sleep in the dirt, and eat MREs for dinner, I'm sure they would be grateful for their beds, and mom's homecooking.
I'm sure you noticed that I said young men right? And you're asking why not women too. Well, I'm old fashioned. And really, I think having strong men, who stay with their family, and raise strong, self-confident sons, and especially daughters, will make a huge difference in this world.
It's just an idea, and I know it would never happen here in America, but really think about it, and I'm sure you will think it would work too.

20 years ago...

Twenty years ago today, the Berlin Wall, and communism, fell and all the news channels were replaying President Reagan's famous line, "Mr Gorbachev, tear down this wall."

And I couldn't help but wonder, what would this world be like now if Mr. Hope and Change was president then. You know, the one who is pulling troops out, cutting military spending. Would the Berlin Wall have fallen if America hadn't pressured the USSR so much. Would communism in Eastern Europe remain? Thankfully, we had a real president then and we don't have to wonder. But I wonder what the world will look like 20 years from now, when we're living in the aftermath of Hope and Change.

Me, in front of the Berlin Wall, May 2007

Israel and Jordan part 2

Check the post dated 11/5/09 or go here for part one.

Wednesday we got up early and headed for the remains of the ancient city of Caesarea. Caesarea was a city built by King Herod in 22 BC on the shores of the Mediterranean Sea. It was the seat of the Roman government for 500 years. Pontius Pilate lived there. Caeserea is where Peter came after his vision in Joppa that the Gospel wasn't only for Jews anymore. Peter was told to come and preach the gospel to Cornelius, a soldier who lived and worked there. This is also were Paul spent 2 years in prison. There were ruins of an arena where they held chariot races as well. Stacy and I climbed over the fence and down some rocks and got our feet wet in the Mediterranean Sea.

The amphitheatre at Caeserea. We sat here and sang  "How Great Thou Art"

Some ruins at Caeserea

The Mediterranean Sea

My feet in the Mediterranean Sea

Mom, Stacy, and I on the shores of the Mediterranean Sea

ancient arena for chariot races

more ruins at Caeserea

Mom and I amongst the ruins

After Caeserea we went to Megiddo. Megiddo was the site for many ancient battles. The New Testament says the final battle between good and evil, Armeggidon, will occur here. The only source of water in this ancient city was outside the gates. So the people built a tunnel underground so that they could safely reach the water. We climbed down 180 stairs into the tunnel and then climbed another 85 to get back out.

ruins of the city of Megiddo

they stored their food in here. see the steps along the side. this way there was only one way in and the food was safe.

the start of the tunnel down

climbing down

it was a long way, and some of the stairs were pretty precarious. in their time, of course, there were no hand railings

in the tunnel

in the tunnel

Mom, almost at the exit

From Megiddo we headed to Nazareth, Jesus' boyhood home. Nazareth was kind of dissappointing. It is a modern bustling city with no real remnants of Jesus time. But we stopped at a the site of Mary's well. In Mary's time this would have been where the people came to get water. Today, a Greek Orthodox church sits on the site.

After this we headed to the Jordan River. While not the actual site that Jesus was baptized it is very close. Some members of our group were baptized in the river, while Stacy and I took more pictures of our feet in the water. Then we shopped :)

my feet in the Jordan River

me, at the Jordan River

it was really pretty

When we got back to the hotel, we decided to walk around the city of Tiberius to get dinner. We found a McDonalds. I got a chicken nugget meal, and it cost $13, American. It was $39, shekels. Quite expensive for 6 mcnuggets. :)

Israeli Mickey D's.

What has it cost you?

I'm sure you've heard Christians called every name in the book. I get so mad when I hear us referred to as naive, or ignorant, or simple-minded. Why is it that when I stand up for my beliefs I'm being ignorant, or prejudiced, but when other people stand up for theirs's, it's all about "equality"? What makes my beliefs less valid than your's? I don't think they are, and that's why it bothers me that Christianity is looked down on so much. I've had discussions with people and as soon as I say that I am a Christian, they totally disregard my opinions and such. It's like I'm a whack job. And I always wondered why that was.
At church on Sunday, the pastor said something that really made sense to me. "Christianity that costs you nothing, is worth nothing."
Jesus said " If any man come after me, let him take up his cross and follow me. For whosoever will save his life, shall lose it. And whosoever shall lose his life for my sake, shall find it. For what is a man profited if he shall gain the world and lose his own soul." --Matthew 16:24-26
Jesus gave His life for us, why should we not be willing to give up ours for him?
I believe that these situations are tests, are we willing to stand up for Him, or do we hide our true beliefs? I once had a guy that I really liked say that he couldn't date me anymore because "he wasn't the church type." In my naivete, I believed that he could change, and I questioned God why can't I be with him? Why can't I find someone who wants to be with me? I should have been asking myself, why would I want to be with someone who isn't "the church type."
If this is what Christianity costs me, a few taunts, a few names being called, even if it means I don't find someone to marry, then I still am blessed. Because Christ gave His life for ME. And if all He asks of me in return is to stand up for Him, and defend His name, then I bear that cross with gladness, and gratitude.
The pastor told the story of the movie Glory. I had seen this movie in jr high, but not since then, and really don't remember it at all. It is the story of the only all african-american regiment fighting in the civil war. The night before they were to go into battle as the front line, and were facing certain death, and one character said to another, "Let it be told to our families that we went down standing up."
And thats the attitude we should have for Christ, if someone is going to take me down for being a Christian, it won't be easy, because I'm going down standing up!

Flashback Friday

Ok, so I thought I would be all organized and get this done ahead of time, but I forgot, and ran out of time to get over to my parents house and scan an old picture. So I have to use one that I already had scanned. Since it's November, I thought I would do a Thanksgiving theme. So here's this weeks flashback picture...

This was Thanksgiving '04. We alternate years between going to my cousins house in Arizona and them coming here. So this year we were in Arizona, this is my little cousin Tatum and I horseback riding. She was 4 in this picture. She's 9 now, and one of my most favorite people. She has no fear, and is always ready for an adventure. Love her!