Change is the only thing that is certain

In life we experience so many things and I find it just a little odd that we always want to hang on to the great moments in our life. Don't get me wrong I love the blasts from the past, and we dedicate alot of effort trying to duplicate those fond memories with tradition and custom. But the only thing you can be absolutely certain of in this life is that it will change. People move on, move in, or move over and the efforts exaustively spent to duplicate those great times you once had become an exercise in futility. We can't live our lives over again... we can only live the life we have now. But change is not to be feared, remember when everything in the world was brand new? There is something about new that keeps us looking for the next change even though we miss the past.

In light of this let us look to the future of ourselves and approach the world with the newness of change. I am filled this day with a powerful sense of Peace and a wonderful inner joy as I see my world changing. Congatulations to Nic and Lindsay on their engagement...marriage might be hard, and realistically you hear so many people talk about this aspect, but they don't tell you about the fufillment and peace that comes when you spend your life with the one you love, your soulmate, your best friend. I could not be happier. To Russ and Kelly, accept advice from no one including me. The tools to be excellent, nurturing, loving parents lies within both of you already. This child is in answer to prayer and the fufillment of both of your dreams. Life could have no greater satisfaction than to see loved ones blessed.

And I would be remiss not to acknowledge the greatest of changes for the world and my life. Tomorrow we celebrate the birth of our lord and saviour Jesus Christ. Father in heaven, I ask that you would be with all of my loved ones as they travel. I thank you for the blessings bestowed upon us and I acknowledge with a loud vouce and humbled heart the greatest blessing of all...your son. Lord I pray for those loved ones I can't spend time with and for those that I will. I ask that you continue to use my life to bring glory and honor to you and you only. Let the spirit move in mighty ways and touch the lives of many this season bringing them to faith in you Lord Jesus Christ. I ask all of these things in in the name of Christ Jesus. Amen

Merry Christmas Everyone!

The tides of life

I used to go to High School with this girl named Christian. She and I became friends when I was a freshman and although we didn't hang together all that much we would talk from time to time and I considered her to be a friend. She had this way about her that was friendly and inviting and she was popular I'm sure as a result. One day during senior year she pulled me aside and said I have something I want to ask you...will you walk with me during graduation. I really hadn't given it much thought, senior year was kind of a blur and I wasn't teriibly excited about graduating, I guess I finally felt comfortable in High School. Story of my life...I always get good at things when they are about to end. At any rate I agreed and we walked that day out onto the field at cabrillo college. I hugged her, wished her well, and we went our seperate ways like so many other people in my life. I thought about Christian from time to time as I traveled through old memories. And I would fall away into that time where everything meant so much and yet unknowingly, we hadn't even scratched the surface of what our lives would be. And with a little sentiment I would wave goodbye to the past knowing that those people had a hand in the person I am today. And in that way I guess you never really lose them. But the world did lose Christian. In 2004 she lost a seven year battle with brain cancer. I had not seen or talked to her but one time in the 14 years since that day at the college and yet the news of her death affected me in a way I can't truly describe. In the hustle and bustle of life, time and distraction allowed me to think less about the friend I once had or maybe I wanted it that way. But I logged on to facebook and looked at a site dedicated to my class and there was a link to the Christian Hamel memorial fund. My emotions welled up inside and I was transported instantly to that last day. Her smile, her laugh. I stupidly had been drinking before the graduation but she helped me with my robe, and in some ways helped me through the ceremony (A moment in life I wish i could redo).
In opening up windows to the past I have discovered that I have truly lived a great life, and although I have had down times and valleys I have had joy and laughter and I shared it with people that matter more than I realized. These are the tides of life and wether it be high or low the people in the outer circle of our lives affect us more deeply than we think. I found myself wishing I could have spoken to her again and remembering how great and important she made me feel the day she asked me to share with her a milestone in both our lives. As sad as her story is I would like her to know that she touched me and I never told her.

...take the time to tell those people that have helped you, touched you, or lifted you up. Don't let the sunset on your oppurtunity to let people know that they are now and always will be important to you. If you do this, I promise you will in part be returning the favor but more importantly you can rest easy that the most important things in life where not left unsaid.

The reason for the season

I find it amazing that there are people that don't recognize the popular push in soceity to eliminate the God of the Bible. Is it that dificult to recognize. I love the lord my God, creator of heaven and earth, Sovereign ruler of the universe and redeemer. The Lord God sacraficed his only begotten son as just payment for my sin because he loved me. His blessings are too abundant to list and his awesome mercy immeasurable. He is the most high, and his kingdom is endless.

But don't mention his name! We don't want to offend anyone.

He created you and I for his purpose and with wisdom and love new us down to the hairs on our head. He stands as a beacon of truth and justice and his majesty trancends space, time, and dimension. He can speak the world into existence and he commands every creature and every event.

But don't stand up for him because we live in the 20th century and he is outdated.

With a swipe of his hand he can blot out the sun, he commands the wind and waves. He can heal the most broken effortlessly and he suffered more than anyone so that you could be with him. His love has no limits, His mercy no walls. In our quest to make ourselves more important he is shunned, persecuted, and scoffed and yet he never leaves and never quiets his call. He has layed out before you the fullest of lives and he knows you deeper than you know yourself.

But let's not offend anyone by recognizing Christs birth.

This is America, the great melting pot, land of many peoples and faiths. I recognize and respect that. But Christians have become the whipping post of the politically correct crowd. Christmas is about Christ. It is a day to recognize the birth of my lord and saviour. It is a holiday because this country was founded by people who believed that. You may not agree with any of the things I said at the beginning of this blog, but if you agree with the PC crowd you have to recognize the hypocracy of your stance. I thought we where to celebrate the differences and cherish the beliefs of others? And yet we have one day of the year that we recognize the birth of Christ, but this is offensive to those that don't believe. Happy Holidays they say as they sneer at those who bow their heads and bend a knee. If this is not your faith, Then enjoy the sentiment that seems to swirell around Christmas...the family time, the food, the friends. But Christmas is about Christ for Christians, it is not a day to be hijacked by those more concerned about offending themselves than offending God. Inclusiveness and equality apply to everyone if that is your mantra. At least Christians are consistant on this or should I say the scriptures are. Right is Right, Wrong is Wrong, Nobody is perfect. Christmas is about Christ, celebrate anyway you like, believe, don't believe, but leave it alone. He is the reason for the Season.

The core

Several years ago my grandmother died...Her death did more than bring grief, It splintered a family structure and left it in ashes. The family that she left was sent into a tailspin. I often had conversations with my brother about how she was the hub of an intricate wheel in which the spokes all spun around. She was that in life...and in death the family was stuck with the dilemna of what to do with the seperated pieces. Of course at first, subconciously, we looked to see who would fill her spot. This was ridiculous and an exercise in futility in that no one could, and I think we all learned, no one should. Death wasn't foreign to us, we had lost grampy several years earlier. But we had Gram and Grandma to shine for us as keepers of the faith. It wasn't easy for them, but they showed us how to except death and then...live! I see so much of my grandmother in my aunts and my uncles she... left such an imprint. I remember that any moment she would shut her eyes raise her hands and say "praise you Lord Jesus."

In light of this wonderful woman, is it any wonder that the core was formed. Look at the examples: Pa, Grandma, Grammy, Grampy, Auntie Russi and Uncle Michael, Aunt Noel and Uncle Randy, Uncle Peto and Auntie Fray. Fellow members of the core, these are our heros. Is their any question that at any time you could approach anyone of these people for help and they would walk to the corners of the globe to make sure you were safe. The core is an extension of them, you all are an extension of them and I feel very proud and humbled to be counted among you. This family, like every family, has never been perfect, and yet not only have we survived, we have thrived under a blanket of acceptance and love that I have rarely seen woven by strong faithful people that have held family up as second only to God.

To the core I echo this sentiment so eloquently laid out by Unc, we need not look to try to stay engaged in eachothers life because we already are. We don't need to ramp up efforts because in my world the love I have for you is effortless and easy. I am so proud of all of you and you should know that I often talk of you not as cousins but as brothers and sisters. When we are in town we want to see Maddi pitch and we are so interested in what is happenning in Davis and Mexico. Weddings, babies, furure engagements?, are all tops on our list of joyful news and exciting happennings. I love you guys and pray for you not only for strength and peace and guidance in your own lives, but thankfulness for the blessing that you are to ours.

We love you very much

Its not about what I want...

I have to admit...I want to be rich, driving the fancy cars and never having to look at my finances or struggle through bills. That would certainly help wouldnt you think. Money can't buy happiness but it's a hell of a down payment isn't it. Dedicating your life to what god wants for you doesn't strip away the desire for things that are worldly. I would even submit that those struggles that you have had in your life before accepting Christ Jesus actually intensify after the power of the holy spirit begans to guide you because you are now aware of those areas of your life that used to be sinful and displeasing to God. Along with salvation and peace comes discernment and responsibility. And one of the hardest things to do is to let go, and trust God with your entire life. Literally to let the spirit saturate your existence and allowing yourself to be an instrument of him in every situation. But thats great for the priests and pastors, what about me? What does that mean for me? Can I still have my Ferrari God? (What a good name for a book). It begs the question...can I be just a little bit in control or do I have to submit entirely to the will of God? What if God wants me poor? (oh the horror) I am always inspired by people like John Michael Portier who travels the country with his family in an RV worshiping God in every venue living off the donations from those he worships with. Thats a warrior for Christ. What If God appeared to me and said "Matt I want you to sell all your stuff and donate it to the poor and start traveling the country and using the gifts I gave you to bring the gospel to people who need it...my sheep need to be fed" Did anyone ever hear Bill Cosby do that bit about building the Ark?

"Noah, this is God, I want you to build me an Ark"
Noah: Right...Whats an Ark?
"It will be 40 cubits by 40 cubits"
Noah: Right...Whats a cubit?

The point is how many of us after release from the insane asylum would do what Noah did. How many of us can answer the call that God has for us. The ultimate designer has charted the perfect course. Life could be no more fufilling than to succeed in the only life plan worth striving to accomplish...God's. The problem is that God doesn't think much of my wordly desires, my materialistic way of thinking. I may want a Ferrari and it is not outside of God's merciful bounty that one day I might be screaming Ciao as I drive by at Mach 6. But is it in God's will? There are those that say God wants me to have that Ferrari. That we are sons and daugters of a gracious and giving God that will bless those that love him. Essentially for faithful servants of Christ we can have the best of both heaven and earth because we have God on our side. I don't discount this way of thinking. But we should be careful about how this is applied to our lives.

"If anyone teaches false doctrines and does not agree to the sound instruction of our lord Jesus Christ and to godly teaching, he is concieted and understands nothing. He has an unhealthy interest in controversies and quarrels about words that result in envy, strife, malicious talk, evil suspicions and constant friction between men of corrupt mind, who have been robbed of the truth and who think that godliness is a means to financial gain." 1 Timothy 6: 3-5 (NIV)

Paint it any way you like, being rich isn't on Gods radar, at least not in the worldly sense. (Matthew 6: 19-20) Jesus talks about worldly posessions and their importance in relation to storing up heavenly treasures. This verse is often used by pastors as a proof text for donations (tithing, etc...) and I believe it makes a valid argument for earthly investment in godly endevours. This is important in the life of a trusting believer. But the reward of salvation can't be bought and if it could, we couldn't afford it anyway. How much is Christ's ( son of God) life worth? We invest in Gods work because we trust that are NEEDS will be met by a loving God. No matter how much I invest...I could never payoff the debt owed. And so I may not feel the plush leather of an F-40 sink underneath me as I stab the accelerator. And I would still be in the red when it comes to Gods ledger.

Christians, money isn't the problem and those with it aren't evil. I have to ask myself as I open the pages of motor trend magazine if the Ferrari gets in the way of God. Do I worship things more than I worship him. Do I spend more time on financial planning or spiritual growth. The undivided attention of the beliver to godly diligence allows us to make decisions that are in line with what God wants for us. I find it frustrating to speak to people that are disenchanted with God because they made poor decisions outside of Gods counsel, let alone conventional wisdom. I find it even more frustrating when people twist irresponsible actions and decisions into some righteous display of trust in which Gods will is ambiguously morphed into the wants and desires of the sinner rather than the other way around. Sadly this way of thinking has infiltrated Christianity causing a paradigm shift in the believer's understanding of the greatness, and awesomeness, of an almighty, sovereign God. God has become a yes man to the wants and desires of those that believe in his son rather than the sinner being a yes man to God for the awesome display of imeasurable suffering to pay off an entirely lopsided debt. In short, although God can and will bless us throughout our lives because he is good and merciful, He owes us nothing. And there is no faith formula or prayer that can move the hand of almighty God less he chooses so.

My counsel will stand and I will do MY pleasure (Isaiah 46:10)
Whatsoever the Lord pleased, that did he in heaven, and in earth, in the seas, and all deep places. (Psalm 135:6)

It's not about what I want...it's about submitting my life to what he wants and living the full life he has layed out for me from before I was created.

Can you phathom the mysteries of God? Can you probe the limits of the almighty? They are higher than the heavens...What can you do? They are deeper than the depths of the grave...What can you know? (Job 11: 7-8)

What this means to me is that my desire must first be to align myself with god's plan and persue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, endurance and gentleness (1 Timothy 6:13) If in Gods sovereignty through my labors and sound financial wisdom based on godly principles I get to a point that I can afford my Ferrari than hop in and lets enjoy the ride together. Until then I will hold to the understanding that it is God's will that I seek him, everything else is secondary.

Putting this into daily practice is far more challenging. We live in a soceity where status is based on what we have not what we give. And so the battle to keep just a little piece of the uppity need for nice clothes and nice cars is really a sin of omission. We havn't given ourselves entirely to God. And perhaps it gives me pause to know that throwing myself into the arms of God might not work out the way I want it to and my Ferrari is merely a dream. Wordly thinking and sad if you look at it from Christ's perspective. I gave up my life and you don't know if you can give up your desire for a nice car? Makes me wonder why God bothers with us pea brains at all I mean how selfish can ones thinking be. This is why I feel the name it and claim it philosophy of so many churches is the ultimate form of arrogance or perhaps ignorance. Do you honestly believe that in addition to submitting his life for you, Christ is now obligated to serve your needs because you have announced yourselves as annointed. What Bible are you reading!? Gives credence to the words of Christ when in the last days there will be many who will say "but Lord, we performed miracles and drove out demons in your name" and Jesus responds" Away from me you evildoers, I never knew you."

HALLOWEEN

A DAY AT THE BEACH

Elections

Those who know me or read this blog know that I was dissappointed in the election results. I don't need to hash out my reasons...but in watching the post election coverage I was frustrated to hear a Mcain supporter say that he was going to treat Obama the same way that Democrats treated Bush over the last eight years, he even summed it up with "two can play that game"

Folks, agree or disagree, Barack Obama is the next President of the United States. And that office and the man deserve the respect and support of ALL Americans. The divisive politics that have split this nation are rooted in an attitude of seek and destroy between political divides. Obama faces extremely hard challenges whatever your political persuasion. Let us not dwell upon a political defeat but on a political oppurtunity. Perhaps new blood is exactly what the doctor ordered. The flip side of the same coin is a call to not support blindly. Let us judge this new presidents performance not with the stained rhetoric of hate we've heard for eight years but an honest evaluation of his performance as Commander and Chief. I freely admit that Barack is charismatic and likeable. Let us join together in prayer and support for our new President with respect and restraint as it relates to him and the office he holds.

I believe in Democracy and we are living history with an Obama Presidency. The election has taken place ,the votes have been cast and counted and here we are. The voice of the people has been heard. This cuts both ways such as in proposition 8. The electorate voted twice on this issue. Twice they agreed that they don't want gay marriage. Disagree? OK in 4 years introduce new legislation and spend your time between now and then convincing people you are right. If you win...you win, but if you lose, litigation is not the answer. Abortion, Gay marriage, prayer in schools are social issues that should be decided by the electorate, not the courts. Debated vigorously in the arena of ideas and then put to the people to decide. Don't like the outcome? Move to a state that agrees with you. It's that simple. I disagree with gay marriage and voted against it...If you are mad about that ask yourself, How many of those in the majority that voted for prop 8 could care less about the issue but voted that way because they have a fundamental conviction that the courts overstepped their bounds in overturning the will of the voters the first time? Weather you like it or not (Mr. Newsome), Presidents, social issues, bond maeasures of all kinds are voted on by the people as it relates to the public forum. The will of the majority gets subverted throught the legal process and we go round and round on issues that quite frankly will never be conceded by either side. Use reason and understanding to persuade the electorate then...RESPECT the vote!

Ok Two significant events today. Today Is Wendy's Birthday. And today is election day. I urge anyone that reads this blog to go out and vote today. Doesn't matter if you are voting for Barack or John, the right to vote for our elected officials has been won b the blood and sacrafice of many that came before us. We don't have to look to far to see real veterans right in our family. After you vote pick up the phone and call Wendy 559-816-1057.

Love you all
Flipper

Several years ago I was at a family reunion in Pittsburgh when one of my rather robust distant relatives tripped and fell. She landed with a pretty good thud and I remember that my first instinct was to laugh...okay I'm a terrible person but I think it's funny when people fall down. I remember my brother slipping and falling in front of the entrance at a ski resort...hang on...just the thought of it causes me to pause and laugh out loud. At any rate the lady ate it pretty good and she wasn't in the best of health to begin with. There was real concern among those of us that were not trying to hold back the giggles, that she could really be injured. I was not a firefighter at the time...I wouldn't become a firefighter for three more years but I remember that day. Of all the people at that party, my brother stepped forward in order to take care of the patient. I would learn later that the questions he was asking were standard EMT stuff but at the time, I thought my brother was a hero. He was calm and collected. He was doing an initial assessment but he sounded like Dr. San Filippo and I watched in utter amazement. Up until that point I thought being a firefighter was pretty...well...easy. "Put the wet stuff on the red stuff" as we like to say. I really had never thought about what my brother had been learning all those years working for CDF and attending classes. I really didn't appreciate the kind of mentality that he had developed that would allow him to remain calm in chaotic situations. (We're Italian so a meatball falling off the table is paramount to Armageddon, imagine what a falling relative is like). It wasn't the first time I looked up to my brother because quite Frankly I always looked up to my brother. In High School I played the sports my brother played. When I was little I used to sneak into my brothers room at night and sleep with him in his bed. But as I got older, I guess I tried to be unlike my brother...you know...forge my own identity. But after several years of forging (if that's a word) I came right back to that family reunion with my brother engaged in a crisis situation, calm, cool, and collected. I was right back to the point I left, 10 years before, I wanted to be like him. And three years later I became a Firefighter/Engineer for the Kings County Fire Department. Funny thing is, last night, I realized that maybe in some respects I will never be like I perceived my brother to be so many years ago. With the mentoring of my Captain and friend, I have developed into a confident Firefighter. There isn't much that gets me riled these days. Multi-casualty traffic accidents, fully involved structure fires, medical aids for broken limbs, stabbings, pulse less non-breathing, hazardous material spills, you name it, I've probably encountered it in some form or another. And this wealth of experience has only expanded my knowledge of the right and wrong directions to take early on an incident. I still have a lifetimes worth of lessons and experience that I haven't lived...but what feels good is that I am well on my way and at times, after the lights and sirens are off, I realize that I have become a little of what I saw in my brother that day at the reunion. However, last night, I was reminded of something that looms out there every time the bell rings. It's the improbable, the rare, and for me the dreaded..."Station 12 medical Aid for 4 year old not breathing..." I don't know how it affects the professionals around me or my brother, but dealing with children in trauma/life threatening situations is emotionally exhausting. The very first EMT call I ever ran was a 6 month old infant that aspirated on her own vomit. I walked in and the deputy police officer handed me the limp warm body of a baby just like my Grayson at the time. I performed flawlessly establishing an airway and performing CPR, I did everything right and yet I was crushed...I got home grabbed my children and weeped, I couldn't hold them tight enough. I learned two things that day, first that I can do this job, and second... I might never be like my brother. When the call came out last night, without anything ever being said, there was an extra sense of urgency. We both knew what was at stake and the clock is your enemy when someone is not getting oxygen. Although I acted in the same professional manner I had five years earlier, that same emotional pit clung to the insides of my stomach and I could feel a tidal wave of emotion as I watched the ambulance drive away. I remember talking to my brother-in-law Chris about this and he advised that I would have to find the strength somewhere to just forget about it. It made sense at the time, learning to understand I was not at fault for what happened, I was only there to help. But all these years later and I haven't been able to do that, and quite frankly I'm not sure I want to. I think my brother in law is probably one of the best persons I know, but I disagree with what he said only in this respect. I'm not sure I ever want to be the kind of person that sees a suffering child and isn't emotionally affected. And so I have come to the realization that maybe I will just have to ride this emotional roller coaster in the rare event that I deal with young children. Perhaps God wired me this way so that I would and do take this job to heart. Maybe that's why I love what I do. I have an emotional stake in every thing that happens after the alarm goes off. For whatever the reason it appears I won't be able to shake the connection I have with this type of emergency. And so in a way I have become just like my brother except I am wearing my own shoes...I guess that's close enough.

32 salvation option on 2...break

The other day I was watching a news story about a young gay man that was being harassed by a church organization. I won't repeat the words that where used but I will tell you that it made me angry. Mostly because on every overtly anti-homosexual sign was a sign of the cross. I began to think about that sign and I realized that I don't think Jesus would have reacted in the same way. Don't get me wrong I don't advocate homosexuality. I believe it's a sin. But does anyone remember the story of the woman that was caught with another man...the local people brought her to Jesus as sort of a trick. They knew the punishment for such a crime was stoning so they brought her before Christ and asked him to lay judgement upon her for the sins she committed. Jesus began to write something in the sand at his feet and his answer was simple, "If anyone of you is without sin, let him be the first to throw a stone at her" (John 8:7) If there was anyone who had the right to cast judgement upon the woman it was Jesus. "I pass judgement on no one. But if I do judge my decisions are right, because I am not alone. I stand with the father who sent me. (John 8:16). Amazingly in the life of Jesus we recognize the awesome mercy of God. Later in the chapter Christ says " Has no one condemned you...than neither do I condemn you...Go now and leave your life of sin." In a nutshell this should be exactly how a christian (one who follows in the footsteps of Christ) should respond to sin. In no way should we accept sin but Christ gives us a very clear blueprint in this one incident of exactly what a christian does when encountering sin. First, recognize that the sin you may recognize in someone else is no worse than the sin in your own life. There are not varying degrees of sinners, and according to Matthew in chapter 7, we will be judged to the degree that we are judgemental. Furthermore we should concentrate on eradicating sin from our own lives before looking to fix anyone else. I might add that in Romans 3:10-23, that we are instructed that not one of us meets the heavenly standards required for salvation. Essentially, none of us carry the credentials of Christ to pass judgement upon another.
Secondly, we need to first forgive recognizing ones struggle with sin. Jesus does this when he says "than neither do I condemn you." We must approach sin as sinners. Holding are brothers and sisters in Christ accountable is not the same as sin judgement upon uncommitted souls. I do not expect one who has not accepted Christs salvation to understand a judgemental attack without personal involvement. The hecklers standing in line felt justified to stand up for scripture and against sin. I too feel it necessary to stand up for scripture emphatically, but as Jesus teaches us, it is more important to lift up the sinner. Someone very smart told me one time that no one has ever been argued into the kingdom of heaven. Do you think that the homosexual man was prompted to look at the message of Christ and the sin in his life because of the attacks of the crowd? The last part of the message is as telling as the first two and leads me to my final point. By telling the woman to "leave her life of sin", Christ emphasizes the importance of a sinless life. With love and forgiveness, Christ instructs her not to sin. At no point does he make light of her sin pointing out the importance of change, but he does this not from a position of judgement (as was his right) but from the depths of love and mercy. I have often thought about what Jesus wrote in the sand that day. But I don't question what he has written in my heart. As Christians we are to hate sin because it stands in the way of our relationship with Christ, but Christ has given us an escape from the sin in our life and he even offers it to sinners like me. I remind myself of this whenever I feel the sin of self righteousness brewing. As I said before I don't think uncommitted sinners are argued into heaven...perhaps we should take a look at Christs playbook.

Riddle time

If you know them than don't answer!

You are walking through the valley of the sunmen and the moonmen when you come across a fork in the road. You know that sunmen always tell the truth and moonmen always lie. You need to determine which way to go and there are three men sitting on a log next to the fork. You need to determine which is a sunman and which is a moonman so that you can get accurate directions. so you ask them "Are you a sunman or a moonman?" The first one mumbles something, the second says "He said he is a sunman, this is true I'm also a sunman." the third says "They are lying, I am a sunman. Now, given this information, can you tell me which is which and why?

A Father and son are going fishing one morning when a car swerves and hits them head on. Both are injured and taken to the hospital where they are brought to separate operating rooms. The surgeon turns to the nurse in the boys OR and says "I cant possibly perform the surgery...this is my son." How is this possible?

A man leaves home travels 90 feet makes a 90 degree turn, travels 90 more feet another 90 degree turn 90 more feet and yet another turn, travels 90 feet back home where there are two men in masks waiting for him. What is this man doing?

A man enters a jail, stands in front of the cell where there is another man imprisoned. The jailer asks him what relation he is to the prisoner. The man replies..."Brothers and Sisters I have none but this mans' father is my fathers son. How are the two related?

Where I'm coming from...?

One of the most profound things said to me lately is that it's sometimes scary where I am coming from. What was so poignant about the particular comment was that it came from someone that had a great deal of influence upon who I am today. I have to say that the comment took me back a bit. I can only assume that sometimes I may overstate my case. Let me clear the record on a couple of issues.

1. I believe the bible to be true, particularly as it relates to Jesus Christ and the salvation of the cross. This belief, just like any in my life, is not an emotional or heartfelt reaction to years of suggestion. Although I am passionate about it now, I came to true faith only after questioning the very foundations of Christianity...the veracity of scripture, alternative gospels, tampering by the early church, The divinity/humanity question, the paradigm shift in Christianity to esoteric experience, and many, many , many, more. In short, I have done my research. An exhaustive collection of books and essays over the last eight years that has brought me to a very comfortable place intellectually with what I know in my heart to be true that Christ Jesus was both God and Man, Came down from heaven and sacrificed himself as just payment for the sin of the world. He was crucified, he died, and was buried. On the third day he rose from the dead and revealed himself.
When I talk of faith...this is it. I couldn't possibly list all of the sources I have used to come to this conclusion. But if your curious I suggest a series of investigative books by Lee Strobel. Lee was an agnostic and an investigative journalist for the Chicago Tribune. His wife, also an agnostic, converted to Christianity and Lee set out to prove to his wife that her new found faith was misplaced. Problem was that after seeking out the worlds foremost experts, amazingly, the empirical evidence and provable facts pointed to the veracity of Christ. Through faith I have been made aware of the sin in my life. This is the reason for the atoning sacrifice of Jesus and the immeasurable display of love and mercy from an almighty God. If you disagree, I respect you, but in order to convince me that I am mistaken, it will take more than an opinion such as I don't believe that, or that's true for you but not for me. Show me the evidence that discounts it, Give me the reasons other than inconvenience and conviction that would cause you to turn away from the very clear words of scripture told by numerous sources from different backgrounds without collusion. I promise you that I have and will continue to look at every objection to the foundation of my world view. I consider it irresponsible for anyone to assert anything as improbable and unbelievable as the life and death of Christ Jesus without examining every objection and every criticism. I humbly proclaim the gospel of Christ not because I think I am worthy, but because I think he is worthy. I am not a priest, a pastor, or prophet. In fact in the grand scheme of theology and evangelism, I am the last person in the world anyone should listen to. But I ask you not to take my word for it. Do the research, ask the tough questions, and look deep for the answers. As much as anyone can, keep an open mind, seek out both sides of the argument as not to fall to one persuasion or the other. In the end...I am confident in God and that all will come to know him.

2. Barack Obama is a decent and good man. I disagree whole heatedly with his view of government and its' role in the life of the electorate. I am passionate about the election because I love this country. I wouldn't care to speculate about all of the peripheral issues that have guided the thinking of Barack Obama, but rest assured he is not for capitalism as we know it. I disagree with him on abortion, and traditional marriage, on tax policy, energy Independence and direction, health care. I think he would be an excellent negotiator but he has revealed a tendency to give up too much to very dangerous people. I don't hate him, I don't think he is a bad guy, I just don't think he is the best guy for president. Let me end with this...In government, through the wisdom of our forefathers, we have designed into it's structure a braking process that allows for slow methodical legislation to be passed only after careful consideration by opposing views. This means that America needs the Barack Obamas and Nancy Pelosis of Government. In order for our government to serve effectively the right needs the left and vice-versa. It magnifies the checks needed to achieve balanced government. I am proud to have both sides although I identify with the right. And so I appreciate Barack Obama and his views. I would even go so far as to say I admire his courage and applaud the historical value of an Obama presidency. But his platform undermines my vision for America, and so unsurprisingly to anyone that knows me, I have argued for a different vote. That's as far as it goes.

3. I am a husband and father, a son, a nephew,a brother, an uncle, a cousin, a friend and not one of these any more important than the other. I get mad and sad. I get my feelings hurt and I am sure I hurt feelings. I love with passion and fight with equal passion. I am not above admitting when I am wrong and I am usually quick to apologize. But I will loyally defend my family and I will be there when ever they need me. I love to embrace the ones I love and I try to be the second to let go. I am much more interested in others than I am in myself and I am constantly trying to learn from the people around me. I'm opinionated and argumentative, but I am also open minded and can listen. I stand for morality, freedom, and strength, but above those I stand for humanity and compassion. They are not opposites. I want the best for my children and the most for my family. I wish upon NO person harm or trials. I am learning to love openly, care abundantly, and give graciously. I strive to put God first, not very well at times and I understand my calling to spread the gospel of Christ. I work hard because my mentors where hard workers and I want to be viewed as I view them. I believe in commitment and honesty. And that my friends in a nutshell is where I am coming from...

Southern California Fires

Hello Everyone,
I am not usually the one to write, however Matt has been sent to the fires in southern California. I just wanted to let everyone know that he is there and ask that you all keep him, the other firefighters and the residents in that area in your thoughts and prayers.
Thank You With Love

Before you vote

I was putting together some research to make this very argument when I was e-mailed this from a friend, I don't believe I could put it any clearer so here it is.

Dear family and friends,

Several people have shared emails about the election in the past months, so after the debate I thought I’d share my thoughts. I’ve been asked if I’m excited about a black man possibly being elected. My reply is that I’d love to see a black man as president…but not a black man with the views of Barack Hussein Obama. Understand, I’m not a huge fan of John McCain’s, but when comparing him to Obama, there really isn’t a choice. I could stop this message there, but I want to detail why I so strongly oppose Obama.
The USA is clearly the greatest country in the world. It’s not perfect, but it is better than any other. If you disagree, as Obama obviously does, based on many of his statements, let me ask a few simple questions:
a. Which country has foreign students clamoring to study within its borders because of the great educational opportunities and freedoms offered?
b. What country is so desirable to reside in that people risk their lives to get there, whether by legal or illegal means?
c. What country provides financial and military assistance around the globe, without so much as a “thank you” from many of those it provides for?
The answer to all: The good ol’ United States of America.
Either Obama isn’t smart enough to realize this (doubtful for a Harvard grad) or he simply doesn’t like the free society and traditional values America is founded upon. We’re in grave danger the day we elect a man to lead this country when he doesn’t even like this country. Is it too harsh to say he doesn’t like the USA? I don’t think so. Consider that Obama admits he has been greatly influenced by Saul Alinsky. In fact, his job as a Community Organizer was with one of Alinsky’s surrogate groups (ACORN). If you’re not familiar with Alinsky, I’ll let him speak for himself. Here’s what Alinsky wrote in the dedication of the first edition of his book, Rules for Radicals.

"Lest we forget at least an over-the-shoulder acknowledgment to the very first radical: From all our legends, mythology and history (and who is to know where mythology leaves off and history begins -- or which is which), the first radical known to man who rebelled against the establishment and did it so effectively that he at least won his own kingdom -- Lucifer."
In addition to his admiration for the devil, Alinsky called for radical actions to overturn the US government and to establish a socialist state in America. Those who believe in Obama say he didn’t really understand Alinsky’s true motives. Well, let’s look at some of his other friends, at least the ones he hasn’t been able to hide from the public:
Exhibit A: William Ayers and Bernadine Dorn—American terrorists who bombed the pentagon and other US buildings. They called Charles Manson “cool.” These two are still involved in radical activities behind the cloak of teaching at universities and they have yet to apologize for their terrorism. “Kill your parents, that’s where it’s at, man!” was one of Dorn’s more infamous sayings.
When asked to explain his friendship with Ayers, Obama said Ayers bombed the pentagon when he, Obama, was eight. Well, Obama wasn’t eight years old when he sat on boards with Ayers. He wasn’t eight when he and Ayers gave speeches while Obama was a state senator. Obama was an adult when he endorsed a book by Ayers on juvenile crime (a book that basically said detaining violent juveniles is wrong and racist). Obama was not a child when he launched his political career in Ayers’ home. Obama was a grown man when Ayers put him in charge of the distribution of $56 million in grant monies designed to “radicalize students politically.” The chief beneficiary of the funds was ACORN (more on them later). Despite what Obama says, it is not racism to tie him to terrorists.
Exhibit B: Jeremiah Wright –Obama’s pastor for twenty years—is a man who perverts the gospel of Jesus Christ, praises terrorists and supports the murderous Palestinian state while denouncing Israel. Wright exalts Louis Farrakhan, claims Iran is good, and says America is evil and deserved to be attacked on 9/11. Wright says there are no opportunities for blacks in America (yet, he, the Obama’s, Franklin Raines, and other blacks have made millions in America). Apparently, there is opportunity out there after all.
Exhibit C: Anthony Resko – convicted felon and major contributor to Obama’s campaigns. Resko had millions of dollars funneled his way by then State Senator Barack Obama to make improvements in poor, black communities, including low-income housing units. Funny thing is…the work was either never done or was done so poorly that many of the buildings are condemned or about to be. Even funnier, Obama was able to purchase a plot of land at well below market value with the help of Anthony Resko. Wow, what a coincidence….
Exhibit D: “Father” Flager—a radical, so-called priest who speaks against the US and Israel, champions abortion on demand, and divides the country with his racially motivated rants.
Exhibit E: ACORN, a corrupt housing lobby that regularly engages in voter fraud and intimidation to promote its liberal agenda. ACORN staff in at least twelve states have been arrested and/or brought up on charges for fraud. This week ACORN offices in NV were raided. Some of the supervisors were found to be felons involved in identity theft crimes. Scandals exist in NV, FL, VA, PA, WI, OH, NC, NM, and others. This organization is where Obama cut his teeth and he’s still close to them. He’s tried to distance himself from ACORN but can’t. His campaign contributed $800k to ACORN for their “get out the vote” drive, and he represented them when the federal motor voter law was passed. Madeline Talbot, an ACORN executive praised Obama for his work with them and asked him to train staff members. Obama is quietly supporting efforts by the ACLU and ACORN to give convicted felons the right to vote. Similar efforts are ongoing in VA.
Hmmm, a presidential candidate who seeks the votes of felons…that’s the kind of change we DON’T need. Incidentally, I had to review some of ACORNs records in a previous job, so I know firsthand that they are corrupt.
Exhibit F Khalid Abdullah Tariq al-Mansour (aka Don Warden), an influential, radical who advocated on Obama’s behalf to get his acceptance into Harvard Law School. Who is al-Mansour? A known supporter of terrorists and a radical who has told audiences, among other things, that it is okay to brutalize and kill white people.”
The list goes on, but hopefully, you get the picture. If the saying that you can tell a great deal about a man by the friends he keeps is true, Obama is obviously a shady character at best. Despite these facts, many still say Obama is going to help the poor and the black community. Oh really? Obama spent years in Illinois “helping” poor people. Interestingly, those people are still poor, while Obama and his friends, like Resko and ACORN, are richer.
I’ve heard it said that Obama understands issues relating to blacks and cares about them. Does he? Consider his 100% approval rating from Planned Parenthood, NARAL, and the ACLU. What do these agencies have in common? All have policies geared to oppressing or eliminating the black race. Where’s the proof? I’m glad you asked.
Planned Parenthood (PP) was founded by Margaret Sanger (atheist, racist, eugenicist, and supporter of communism). How did she view blacks?
"We should hire three or four colored ministers, preferably with social-service backgrounds, and with engaging personalities. The most successful educational approach to the Negro is through a religious appeal. We don't want the word to go out that we want to exterminate the Negro population, and the minister is the man who can straighten out that idea if it ever occurs to any of their more rebellious members."
-- Margaret Sanger's12/19/1939 letter to Dr. Clarence Gamble. Original source: Sophia Smith

So, the founder of Planned Parenthood wanted to use blacks with social service backgrounds and engaging personalities to lead blacks blindly to the slaughter. Sounds like Barack Obama fits her qualifications, doesn’t it?

Perhaps you’re saying that was a long time ago. Well, Sanger’s legacy lives on. Think about it…the majority of Planned Parenthood clinics are in black neighborhoods. Most of the abortions they perform are on blacks. Furthermore, earlier this year several PP clinics came under fire when a group wanting to expose the racist tendencies of PP called asking if donations could be made specifically to promote more black abortions because “the less black people the better.” The PP workers--at different sites--encouraged the practice and agreed with the callers! PP employees didn’t say “we don’t target a specific race at Planned Parenthood.” In fact, one worker spoke of her excitement over the request, saying it was “perfectly understandable” to want fewer blacks alive.

The ACLU, founded by Roger Baldwin (atheist, racist, communist, friend of Sanger), claims to fight for our civil liberties, but Baldwin provided his followers a strategy for their deceptions:

“Do steer away from making the ACLU look like a socialist enterprise. We want to look like patriots in everything we do. We want to wave a lot of flags, talk a great deal about the Constitution and what our forefathers wanted to make of this country—and to show that we really are the folk that stand for the spirits of the institutions.”

The ACLU is wed to PP, defending it at every turn. But there’s more. The ACLU continually fights against Christian principles in America while defending the “rights” of sexual predators. This is the organization that wants to defend terrorists caught on the battlefield trying to kill our soldiers (and us), because the terrorists aren’t bad people. So, who are the “bad people” that the ACLU wants to put in jail? Try military chaplains who pray in Jesus’ name and high school valedictorians who want to credit Jesus in their commencement speeches. Oh, and I can’t forget their war on the Boy Scouts. The ACLU sees Christians/Christianity as dangerous, not terrorists.

Obama’s friends in NARAL agree with him and his wife, Michelle, that partial birth abortion (infanticide) should be legal. I won’t describe how disgusting this procedure is in case someone has a weak stomach, but I encourage you to read about the procedure. After you do, remember that Obama and his wife, Joe Biden, and their support group (including the ACLU, NARAL, & PLANNED PARENTHOOD) are just fine with this. Partial-birth abortion is truly infanticide, and Obama, the “citizen of the world,” supports it.

Barack has promised gay and lesbian groups that he will end the Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA) which will end marriage as we know it. Some ask, “What’s the big deal?” Well, when you define marriage based on “love” where does it end? What stops a 50 year old man from marrying a 14 year old girl if they “love” each other? What stops a 40 year old woman from marrying an 11 year old boy if they are in “love”? Taken at its logical progression, people will want to marry their pets, and they will be able to do so because “love” will be the defining factor. Once we go down the road of redefining marriage, we will eventually lose the family which is the foundation of any society.

Obama knows full well that statistics bear out the fact that gays do not want to be married, most want nothing to do with monogamy. Legalizing gay marriage in CA and MA did not result in a huge number of filings for marriage certificates, despite the way it was portrayed in the media. However, Barack’s agenda is to redefine our country, and this is part of the process

His commitment to the homosexual agenda is so extreme that Obama has said, “I will place the weight of my administration behind the enactment of the Matthew Shepherd Act to outlaw hate crimes and a fully inclusive Employment Nondiscrimination Act (ENA).”

You might recall that Shepard was the gay man who was killed in a drug deal gone bad. Sadly, it was falsely reported by the media that he was killed by homophobic Christians. Liberals have used this lie to justify the supposed need for “hate crimes” laws. There is no need for a “law” to prosecute a hate crime. All serious crimes are based on hatred. We have laws in place to convict murderers already!

As for the ENA, proponents say it would prevent businesses from discriminating. For example, a Christian bookstore would be required to hire an openly gay person if the person had relevant experience. Failure to do so would mean facing penalties for discrimination, including fines and/or jail time. This goes against our freedoms and logic. The question has to be asked: why have liberals never sought to require Planned Parenthood to hire a Christian to be the Executive Director under the principles of the ENA. Maybe Tom Brokaw should have brought some of this up during the debate. Wonder why he didn’t? (I’m being facetious…we know why he didn’t).

So, why are radical liberals like Obama pushing “hate crimes” legislation? The root is an attempt to silence Christian speech. Supporters of hate crimes laws seek to outlaw portions of scripture such as Romans 1, which speaks against homosexuality. If you don’t think this is possible, do some research about the situation in Canada and Europe. Each country has banned parts of the Bible. Rest assured, Obama wants this for America.

You might be thinking, “Obama’s a Christian, he wouldn’t try to silence Christian speech.” Well, it takes more to be a Christian than simply saying “I’m a Christian.” Do not forget, Jesus said, “if you love me, you will keep my commandments.” Jesus commanded that we not kill. Obama advocates abortion on demand (more on this later). Jesus said Israel is His chosen nation and people. He gave the land of Israel to His people. Obama accuses Israel of occupying Palestinian lands and of oppressing the Palestinians. He also employs advisors from the Carter Administration, one of the most, if not the most, anti-Semitic presidencies in history. Jesus said homosexuality is an abomination. Obama says it’s a normal activity, and wants to teach kids as young as 3 years old this philosophy.

From those few examples, you can make up your own mind about Obama’s faith, but I have to add one more thing…Jesus WAS NOT a community organizer, despite what Obama’s followers tell us.

Obama has said that he will eliminate our nuclear arsenal, that he will not develop any new defense systems, that he will disarm much of our military forces, and meet with terrorists like Iran’s President Mahmoud Ahmedenijad and Venezuela’s Hugo Chavez, without pre-conditions. What Obama fails to realize is that you cannot negotiate with a person who wants to kill you. How do you negotiate with people who aim to wipe entire nations, including our own, off the map? Were he alive, I’d be curious to know what Neville Chamberlain would say to Obama about negotiating with crazed dictators. Chamberlain learned the hard way in dealing with Hitler that the only way to negotiate with a madman is after you have defeated him.

Obama’s economic policies are scary. He wants to raise taxes on corporations, which will cause more corporations to leave the US for cheaper locales, which will equal job cuts. His voting record exposes the fact that he has voted to raise taxes on families making $42k per year (I know he says that isn’t true, but he can’t run from his thin voting record). He promises to lower taxes for 95% of Americans, boasting that only the top 5% of taxpayers will see an increase. That would be quite a feat considering that only 78% of Americans pay any taxes at all. He speaks of the middle class, but his energy policies will cripple the middle class with increases in gas prices and heating bills.

He supports universal health care. If this sounds like a good idea, take a good, long look at the systems in Europe, Canada, and Cuba…those folks are trying to come to the US when they’re sick, not vice-versa. Obama wants to raise the death tax, giving the government more money from a deceased person who worked hard and wanted to leave an inheritance to family members. This hurts everyone, including the middle class.

He doesn’t want to tap into the vast reserves of oil in our country (he has reversed his position only because of poll numbers). He wants to continue our dependence on foreign dictators who hate us. He says he will invest in alternative fuels, but that won't help us today, tomorrow, or for years to come. We will still need oil where exploring alternatives. His plan leaves us vulnerable. He says we will show strength to the Russians if we conserve energy. I, for one, don’t see how wearing my sweater in the house during the winter months will make Putin shake in his boots. Obama tells us to keep our tires inflated and get tune-ups so we won’t need to drill for oil. Well, maybe someone can remind him that the majority of cars on the road today don’t really need tune-ups and that most cars let us know when our tires are getting low on air. Talk about being out of touch….

Basically, it makes no sense for our country to be at the mercy of people who hate us when we have our own oil. I see this as a national security issue. We have the technology to drill safely and to harness nuclear energy which would create jobs, and increase usable income for the middle class. Obama opposes both steps, despite the fact that other countries are drilling off our coastlines. He and Biden (and other radicals) falsely claim it will take ten years “to get a drop of oil” even if we start drilling now. This isn’t true and they know it, but even if it were true, don’t we have to start at some point? In the 1990s Bill Clinton used the same logic. Had we started drilling then, even if the 10 year fallacy was true, we would never have seen $4 gallon gasoline in 2008.

By Obama’s logic, we should stop fighting the “war on poverty” because we haven’t seen any results. People are still poor. We should also stop embryonic stem cell research (another way of taking human life) because no medical breakthroughs have been discovered from this method, only adult stem cells which don’t require taking human life have proved fruitful. But, logic for radical liberals is one sided…it’s their way or the highway.

Obama says our troops are “air raiding villages and killing civilians.” He has said that Iran and Venezuela are “tiny” and that they “don’t pose a threat to us.” A Commander-in-Chief who believes our soldiers are murderers and doesn’t think our sworn enemies are threats...I don’t know about any of you, but that doesn’t make me feel safe.

When talking to his wealthy friends, Obama calls Christian, working class people “bitter” and says we cling to our “guns and religion” with “antipathy” for those different than us. Yet, when in the presence of the middle-class, he claims to love us. I think it’s safe to say that this professional politician is in the habit of telling people what he thinks they want to hear—this is hypocrisy.

Obama blames the current economic crisis on “the policies of George Bush” and claims he called for regulation years ago. I ask that you do some research on this. You’ll find that the Bush Administration tried, though not hard enough in my opinion, to bring reform to Fannie and Freddie but liberal democrats and some liberal republicans blocked it time and again. John McCain spoke in 2005 about the dangers of the situation. Again, liberal democrats such as Barney Frank, Chris Dodd, Nancy Pelosi, Maxine Waters, Chuck Schumer, and, yes, Barack Obama blocked the attempt. They were receiving huge contributions from Fannie and Freddie (only Dodd received more money than Obama) and they protected their cash cows and blocked proposals to regulate the agencies because they were benefiting, never mind the taxpayers--you and me. . Two of the biggest perpetrators of this travesty (Franklin Raines, who made $90 million while running Fannie Mae, and Jim Johnson) are advisors to Obama. Another, Jamie Gorelick served in the Clinton Administration and made over $70 million while with Fannie/Freddie.

Video is available online of Barney Frank and others praising the leadership of Fannie and Freddie as recently as two years ago, claiming republicans just didn’t want poor people to have homes. Now, the people responsible for this mess, including Barack, are saying they had nothing to do with it and are being praised in the media.

There is also the Sarah Palin factor. Many emails are critical of her while touting Obama. So, let’s compare the two starting with Palin. She has served as Alaska’s Commissioner for Oil & Gas, the most powerful commission in the state, served as a successful Mayor for four years, and as the Governor of a state with an $11 billion budget for over 2 years, where she is the most popular Governor in the USA. From all appearances, she is a supportive mother and wife, practicing Christian, charismatic, and tough. She has been called dumb or worse in the media, but has clearly dispelled that myth. She has been criticized because her husband had a DUI. It is rarely mentioned that the DUI was 25 years ago, before they were married.

Her Pentecostal faith has been labeled “weird” and she’s been the object of ridicule because she, apparently, takes the Bible literally. Well, God says the Bible is His word, so it should be taken literally. She’s taken heat because her husband attended a rally where seceding from the union was discussed. Additional criticism has come because she supports abstinence before marriage and her daughter is pregnant. Finally, she’s been criticized for not aborting her child. Imagine that, we’re living in a time when NOT killing your child is considered a bad thing.

Contrast that with Obama. He served as president of the Harvard Law Review, but no record exists of his accomplishments there. He was elected, with the help of Bill Ayers, as State Senator in one of the most liberal bastions in America. Once in the senate, he accomplished little, voting “present” in most cases, never making a tough decision. He says he has made tough decisions, such as his vote against the Iraq War. Perhaps someone should remind Barack that he wasn’t in the senate when that vote was cast. He has also attained recognition for his stance against the Infant Born Alive Protection Act on at least 3 occasions. This act would have guaranteed medical care for an infant who survived an attempted abortion.

Let me repeat…Obama voted against a bill to give medical care to a child surviving an abortion attempt. His reason: “We’re saying they [the children surviving abortion attempts] are persons entitled to the kinds of protections provided to a child, a 9-month delivered to term. I mean, it would essentially bar abortions because the equal protection clause does not allow somebody to kill a child.” –Barack Obama, March 2001. This is nothing short of infanticide.

After serving in the state senate, he was elected to the US Senate, and has served there a total of about 150 working days with no real accomplishments. Oh, lest I forget, he was also a community organizer for ACORN, and later served as an attorney for ACORN. He has a wife who has never been proud of our country and thinks America is “downright mean” in 2008. He chose to attend a church led by a ranting, racist who curses America from behind the pulpit. Oh yeah, he also wrote in his memoirs that he was in a drug induced haze for much of college years.

In my view, Palin wins the match-up hands down. More importantly, she is at the bottom of the party ticket, while Obama is at the top of his party ticket.

Obama is not qualified to be President of the United States. Hillary Clinton said so, even his running mate, Joe Biden, said so. And while I’m thinking of generous Joe Biden, let’s not forget that he is the man who made $3.5 million last year and gave $3,000 to charity. Yes, this is the same Joe Biden who says its “patriotic” for us to pay more taxes.

As a final point, I cannot stress enough that the next president will choose potentially four Supreme Court justices. I do not want a radical Supreme Court that will legislate from the bench and try to force secular humanism down our throats, whether we want it or not. Obama has pledged to appoint judges like Ruth Bader Ginsburg (former lead attorney for the aforementioned ACLU) if he is elected. He has attacked Clarence Thomas as not being a judicial scholar and of not having the experience to have been appointed to the Supreme Court (way to support a fellow black man, Barack). I find it interesting that a man with no relevant experience can try to justify his quest to become president while having the nerve to say experience mattered for Clarence Thomas.

Simply put, as a Christian and an American, I cannot support Obama. The thought of him in power with leftists like Nancy Pelosi and Harry Reid at his side is scary. Should that happen on November 4th I will feel sorry for the future of our country, but will be thankful to God that my life and security are in His hands.

If you still choose to vote for Obama after reading this, it won’t change my view of you. We’re still friends and/or family, but I had to express my viewpoint because maybe some of you don’t know these things about Barack. Times are indeed tough, but Obama doesn’t offer any real change. His message is the same tired liberalism that we have seen from Jimmy Carter, Michael Dukakis, and others. He would have us believe that John McCain is George Bush. We need to remember that Bush isn’t on the ballot and McCain is not Bush. The socialist policies supported by Obama are what got us into the mess we’re in. They are not the solutions to our problems.

As I close, I ask that you pose this question to yourself: Were you better off in 2005 than you are in 2008? If you answered yes, think about what happened in 2006—the Democrats, under the misguided leadership of Nancy Pelosi and Harry Reid, took over. I believe that with those two and others of like mind being voted out of office on November 4th, we’ll see improvement. That’s the kind of change we need.

Take care, and thanks for taking time to read this!

No Grayson

Because I have comitted myself to God I think things unfold in the way that they do because of a divine plan. Some people think the divine plan means that they will be healthy and wealthy and that all things bad in life are punishment by God for some wrong you've comitted or a secret sin your holding on to. While I agree that continued sin in your life will take from your relationship with God and create difficulty, I believe that the good and the percieved bad are all part of God's plan. Again how to we learn to be strong, patient, loving, giving, humble, and sacraficing if we never have the opurtunity to have any of those attributes challenged. And so God places us in situations in order to learn, grow, and sometimes be reminded of what matters most to us. Last night was just one of those oppurtunities.
After spending all day at the kids school for their Fall festival...Grayson and Tanner wanted to stay with me at the festival while my wife who came for several hours (bless her heart) was tired and wanted to go home to feed Sierra. She agreed to leave the kids with me and she would be back in about an hour to pick up the boys while I stayed to help clean up. The boys had been playing games and running around all day but they still wanted to toss a foot ball around. There where probably 1000 people still at the festival and we ended up tossing the pig skin around for awhile until suddenly it happened. I turned around for a moment and Grayson was gone. Not 10 seconds had passed and I didn't see him. I asked Tanner if he saw his brother leave, and began searching the immidiate area thinking he couldn't have gone far...he didn't have enough time. A quick search and no Grayson, my pace quickened. I began to briskly walk to all of the places that would interest him, my heart began to beat rapidly and all my training at work that keeps me calm in crisis situations began to erode...I was worried. After about 2 minutes of searching which of course seemed like forever I began to realize that I had covered all the bases...every room knook and obvious cranny he might be in. I began to call his name, I instructed Tanner to split up and search seperately, I started telling everyone we knew (which was alot of people)and they began o search as well. My brisk walk became a run, 4-5 minutes had passed and No Grayson. My heart was not only rapid but beating hard, My eyes began to well up with tears and the worst began to cross my mind and I began to pray. I saw Tanner, walking towards me but No Grayson. He then informed me that Mom was here (If I wasn't in a state of panic before, that definitely pushed me over the edge)I ran back and forth through the festival calling his name and employing the help of everyone I could find. Wendy and I crossed paths and her face reflected everything I was feeling. And then one more corner and there he was. Our next door neigboor found him ambling through the parked cars next to where we playing football. He had gone back to the barbeque area to get his drink he had left and was walking through the cars to get back. Steve the guy that lives next door told him his mom was looking for him but Grayson refused to go at first saying No I'm looking for my Dad. Only when I saw him did I realize the tremendous weight I was carrying around for the last 7 minutes. The world stood still and I held him close to me. I took him to his Mom immidiately and they, after a little bit of tears, loaded up and went back home. When I got home, my wife was still upset (I understand), and wanted me to talk to Grayson sternly about taking off. She walked into the bedroom so that I could have a serious conversation with him about leaving without telling anyone. I got the Dad stern face and walked around the counter where Grayson was sitting. I glared at him wanting him to know I meant business. His head bowed because he knew he was in trouble and he looked up at my deadly serious face with only his eyes. My expression didn't change. Just then I could see a smile in the corner of his mouth. He knew he was busted but the long stare became a little uncomfortable and he nervously smiled and put his hand over his mouth. It was the cutest thing you've ever seen. I lost it, I began to cry and I grabbed him up in my arms and held him smiling and crying at the same time. I whispered to him I couldn't imagine my life without you and I carried him to bed and tucked him in. In the hustle and bustle of a new baby and a busy life, God reminded me what my son Grayson means to me and the desperate empty hole that would be left in my heart if anything where to ever happen to him. I couldn't be more grateful.`

The best

Today I went to the gym where I ran into this friend of ours. She smiled and made her way across the room and said "I just have to say that your daughter is perfect" An Interesting way of describing her but I could not agree more. Her litle face seems to light up when you talk to her, her hands motioning in different directions, you can almost see the desire for her to communicate. Her little eyes and ears perfectly wrapped around that button nose and those pursed little lips that remind me of Tanner when he was an infant. The way her hair and skin smell when she has had her bath. The soft silkiness of her hair. The strength of her grasp in such delicate little fingers. Her olive skin and dainty arms and legs. Can you tell I'm a just a little head over heels. A daughter...you know it still freaks me out when people ask me how many kids I have and I tell them that I have three. Almost like I have THREE! Holy Crap. (Im a big fan of the dad on everybody loves Raymond). She's my little goober and I can't help but kiss her all the time. Apparantly she isn't just my goober because everyone who meets her thinks she is just the best...maybe that's just what people say but I don't care. God saw it in his providence to grant us a little angel. And I will spend the rest of my life endevoured to the same committment I gave to my sons. To raise her under his grace, in the tradition of my own parents and that of my in-laws, to be...in this life...everything god has prepared for her. I wonder how she will live, what she will see and experience. I wonder what challenges she will face and what memories she'll carry with her. I couldn't imagine the journey, so helpless, so fragile, that Tanner would make when he was a newborn. But now I see it for what it is and realize that I just don't have that much time. In a flash she will be telling me shes getting married..........Sorry I just passed out for a brief moment. But now I can hold her close to me, the smell of her soft little skin and the baby blanket, her eyes closed in perfect peace under the blanket of love and protection she trusts me with. This is the love only parents can share with their childeren (OK maybe grandparents...I heard the heavy breathing as soon as I wrote the line, dont break a hip) But an all consuming love and devotion. This is the best!!!

From the heart

For the longest time I have felt a little uncomfortable about what I have posted on the blog. I wanted to use this forum to share the gospel of Christ as well as keep people updated on what has been happening in our lives. It seemed like such a good idea and I have really enjoyed the comments. But with every good thing, it seems, comes challenges. You see being raised as a Catholic and a believer, I assumed that the people that I loved and cared about had received the same message that I had received. I assumed that whatever their relationship with Christ, they believed in his sacrifice for their sin and the redemption found only in his saving grace. Having navigated the pitfalls, and having faced many of the challenges, I merely accepted that like me, those I love where struggling to be Christlike in an ungodly world. Like me they understood that there where principles passed down from a living God, that if used as a foundation, would create a peaceful, meaningful existence that glorified him. This idea has never been easy and I never wanted to present it as such. In fact, I humbly present the word of God not from a position of authority or judgement, but from my heart with the comfort of forgiveness received and the joy of bearing witness to true love and boundless mercy. You see I had hoped that people would be enriched and served by something I may have said. Perhaps there would be a sticky point in which they would examine for themselves what it is they believed and why they believed it. If this is the reaction you have had, than I am glad...even if you disagreed with what I may have said. Ten years ago on a car ride to visit a friend, my faith was challenged indirectly. The conversation was brief but that moment stood as a turning point in my life. I had to ask myself what it was that I believed and why...and then I had to start living my life by what I claimed to be. No more pretending. No more could I live my life in the manner I was living it and claim to be a good person, a godly person. The spirit had been whispering for years, I chose not to listen. Stark biblical principles that I had chosen to mask over the years became abundantly clear and I was forced to give tremendous weight to what I knew in my heart to be the inspired word of God. To be Frank, (or Matt...ha ha) I never really put that much time and effort into knowing what scripture really said and over the years I was able to water down my faith enough to live very separate identities. I felt blessed in a prideful way to minister to people through the Search program and I took great pride in my participation in music ministry and youth services. I was surrounded by a body of believers and I enjoyed the life of a pronounced christian that was doing work for the kingdom. But as soon as I left the halls of the Church. the facade came crashing to the ground. Although I never denounced my faith, I certainly did not proclaim it. Choosing to stay hidden and participating in all sorts of things that where devastating to my relationship with Christ and an assault on true happiness and peace. By keeping myself biblically illiterate, I was able to have the best of both worlds. I was the master of my life, doing what I wanted outside the safety of the church, and paying lip service to the creator when it was convenient for me to do so. I realized that this duality is exactly why Christ said " it is impossible to serve two masters." Deep down I knew that although I wanted to keep score of all that I had done over the years for the church, and all of the good things about me, and all of the ways I felt God was part of my life, in the end, I was serving myself. A tremendous weight began to bear down on my heart. After all those years I forgot who my saviour was and I was ashamed. Although I had given my heart to Christ as a teen-ager, somewhere in the hustle and bustle of growing up, I took it back and gave in to sin. My faith was a empty and meaningless. I had sacrificed nothing of myself for the one who sacrificed it all. I had destroyed Godly relationships, turned from him at every corner, and my world view was that of an existence in which God was part of life, not the meaning for it. As I dipped even further into depravity, the easier it was to mute the spirit that convicted me daily. I was worse than the agnostic or atheist. I had been touched by God, given glimpses throughout my life of his greatness and mercy. I had ridden the wave of love and fellowship knowing about Christ brings. By turning from him,I felt like a traitor. I wish I could tell you that from that point forward, the Spirit of God came crashing down upon me and I was filled with peace and the angels sang and my heart was changed. Make no mistake about it...my heart was changed in that moment, but God knew that my faith would remain empty unless I was forced to suffer for it. At that point in my life I was no longer headed in the wrong direction, but the destination was far off and every step would require sacrifice and determination. I would be forever challenged to renew my commitment to God daily and I would be required to prove my faith not to God, or to anyone else, but to myself. At first I attacked the challenge with vigor and fierce determination, but the daily grind of a worldly life began to erode my conviction. Ironically, however, God instilled a thirst and a passion I had never known. Equipping me with the tools I needed to face the onslaught from the outside world but even more surprising, the resistance and shocking disbelief of those that I thought had excepted the salvation of Christ but like me had fallen away. This has been the most difficult thing I have faced. Through forgiveness, Christ has shown me an encompassing consuming love that could not be restrained, and ultimately opened my eyes and my heart. I love more, listen more, care more, forgive more and naturally want to share this with everyone. But in my haste to share the gospel with excitement I realized that I had become the person that might inadvertently close the door to someones discovery because I was over zealous. Wow! a true sinners sinner, the lowest of the low. I thought that maybe because I was such an ass for so long that it would give me spiritual street cred (so to speak). People would be more open to talk with someone who truly saw themselves as unworthy. I have to admit that one of the things I have learned about God is that he rarely does things the way you think. In the movie Evan Almighty God asks "When someone asks for patience, do you think God gives them patience? or does he give them the opportunity to be patient? When someone asks for courage does he provide courage or the opportunity to be courageous? I hope and pray that before i leave this world at least one heart will have come to Christ not because I led them, but because they saw Gods work in me and where moved to know more, feel more, pray more. That is a life worth living.

The wisdom of youth

I'm back

Sorry for the long break...The other day while Wendy was breast feeding Sierra, Grayson asked if he could feed her with his breasts. Wendy calmly responded with no it is only something that Mommies can do. Grayson paused looked at his chest and candidly asked. Then why do I have nipples?

I should wright a book entitled "Why do I have nipples"...the inner thoughts of Grayson. It's interesting to watch Grayson grow up especially during this time. Sierra has really moved in and took over baby status and in the short time that we have been home, alot of our attention has been on the baby. I ran into one of our friends at the grocery store the other day and I told her that as much practice as we have had with newborns and babies, it really feels like we are starting all over again. It takes a while before you stop calculating every move every single time you hold the baby. Ok support the head, careful, not to fast, be gentle shes little, watch the soft spot, wash your hands, and waking up everytme the baby peeps. That lasts for about a week. By the end of next week we'll be tossing her across the room like a football. I know I am biased but is she not the most adorable baby. It's a good thing I married out of my league.

I got to see cousin Kev for a short time last Thursday, what a blessing.

a big giant Thank you goes out to mom who stayed and "helped" the first week. Helped meaning cooked, cleaned, took the kids to school, organized the calendar, painted the livingroom, watched the baby, helped with homework, and a dozen other things. I'm sure we would not have had such a smooth transition with out her help.

Ti Ti and Unnle have come to see there niece. I always enjoy when my brother and sister come visit.

Ok this one is quick I have a lot to say but I'll have to come back later

She's Here!

She's here, she's a blessing, and we are so happy enjoy the pics

He didn't have to be

The other day I was at work and we were watching Walk Hard-the Dewey Cox story. Hilarious movie but there is this one part where Dewey's wife is leaving him and he says "you can take the children but you leave my monkey." It was a hilarious scene but my buddy at work struck up a more serious conversation about Fathers and responsibility. Now for those of you that have met my Dad you probably didn't know that he is not my biological Father. He and my mom split up when I was very young and now I have only the snapshots in my memory. I probably wouldn't recognize him if I bumped into him on the street. My Dad, Pete, is my dad... my Father. As we discussed my friends story I began to reflect upon my own family and I began to think about my Dad. I wonder what it would have been like to walk into the responsibility of two boys that were not yours. I wonder what I would have done in that same situation. I know I was a cute kid but cute only goes so far and parenting is for life. I look at my Dad and I see the mistakes he made as a parent. Young kids often look to blame the way they were raised. But one fact can't escape me as I grow up and have my own children. He didn't have to be a Dad to children that were not his and he certainly didn't have to stick around long after we ceased to be cute kids. He didn't have to Coach my soccer team or show up to my diving events or take me to work with him when I was younger. He didn't have to care. I mean lets be honest, Guys don't look for kids to raise...he was interested in my mom and we were just part of the package. But over 30 years later my Dad has stayed the course, and of all the lessons he taught me growing up, whether he realizes it or not, the greatest lesson has been unconditional love and commitment. I love hanging out with my Dad. We have alot of the same interests although I wish he liked the Niners more. You see I look at my Dad and I realize that sometimes in life people show you Christ like love, and you never even saw it coming. When I first got married, Wendy's relationship with God was not a priority, but if you were to look at the two of us. She exemplified the love and commitment of Christ far more than I did...and I claimed to be a believer. What can I say I married out of my league. As for my Dad, I realize that God has given me a reflection of himself in the face of my Father and that my biological Father was pushed aside by the Spirit so that my Dad could be part of my life. The foundation of my faith came from my Mother and Fathers insistence that I attend faith based schools and church on Sundays. Who knows what would have happened if things had not unfolded in the way they did. This is not to say that we didn't have our rough patches, but behind the conflict, I now see that whatever my Father may have done, he always wanted the best for us. There is a country song by Brad Paisley called "He didn't have to be" that encompasses the sentiment I have for my Dad. You can youtube it if you want and listen to the words. To my Dad, ever since the conversation on the back patio of my house I have prayed that you would understand that God has used you throughout my life. You have been an instrument of him. I cherish the relationship we have now and I am only just beginning to see life through your eyes...the eyes of a Father. I love you Dad.

Frick, Frack, and beyond

I am not sure about how other families do it but in large Italian families, cousins are like brothers and sisters. I love my brother and my sister in a way that is special and unique to them...but have always felt that I had this extended brother/sister relationship with my cousins. This bond between cousins is extremely strong. Allowing myself to think briefly about the stable of cousins that I have makes me proud and gracious that I have been blessed over the years. At different times of my life, I have been able to participate in these intense relationships that foster a feeling of love, loyalty, and safety. And the best part is no matter what the time or distance, I know I can count on them and they can count on me. As I get older, The amount of times I see my cousins gets less and less...that's life. And as I think about it, the biggest problem I have with it is that I don't get to be part of their daily lives and they don't get to be part of mine...maybe that's selfish. For example, my cousins Danny and Tahra have 4 children and the youngest one is named Blake. They are incredible kids and I hear stories from my mom who has visited over the years passed down through the two headed monster (inside joke). But I have only met my little cousin Blake one time. Now Marlow, my Godchild and Blake's older sister, was just a baby when they moved to Texas and I got to spend at least a little time with her, Reese, and Isabel. Now I realize that life gets busy, people move, grow up, get jobs, get married...and although we can tell stories, it's not the same, and Blake really doesn't know who I am. That was not the plan. When I was younger I was part of a dynamic duo known as Frick and Frack...I still don't know which one I am. The other Frick...or...Frack is Blake's father Danny and we were inseparable, all the way up through college and still today. The plan was that our children would be as close as we were when we grew up. We even have kids around the same age and when Reese was born at the same time as Tanner, we both considered it a blessing (and a curse). I talk to Danny every so often and it's always great, we always seem to pick up right where we left off like a couple kids peeing in the basement...guess you had to be there. But Blake doesn't know his cousin/uncle Matty.
And so we live in this real world where things don't always work out the way we thought. Being a kid person, I feel like I'm missing out. I have often thought about what makes up the glue that binds you to some people while others fall by the way side. Why is it that some relationships seem cemented into the foundation of who you are and others drift away? I don't know the answer but I do know that I must have extra sticky glue...and for that I thank God. I have been blessed with so many encouraging God filled relationships bringing me to the realization that I thrive on these tight knit friendships. I need them...I think we all do. This I believe is the reason that I miss Blake, even though he doesn't know me. I pray that God touches the lives of those who have allowed me to be part of them and I thank all of you for that sacred privilege. Frick...(or Frack) you know you are one of these people. Bonded together through time, trials, love, hope, and salvation in Christ. Distance doesn't change that. Give Blake an extra big hug and kiss. And know that I wish I could do it myself...