OK- So good news can be hard to come by...

...on the Internet. 'Turns out that most legitimate news organizations stick with the term "if it bleeds it leads." That sucks. Who wants to read about death and tragedy all of the time? Apparently a lot of people. I find myself sucked into the paper on a daily basis. I can't even tell ya how many RSS feeds I have.

So, I am going to type some of my own good news and I encourage you to do the same. It helps.

I successfully replaced my second sprinkler valve, 2 days after installing a valve stem in my shower. Both were very edifying with how much I have learned (by God's grace of course) over my 4.5 years at the hardware store.

Second, the IHOP Prayer Room webstream video finally works without crashing IE in Windows Vista! THANK YOU GOD!

Third, and this is of UBER impotance to me, I got to hang out with a pretty cool group of individuals from a new church I started going to recently .Very cool, very loving, very motivated people with a heart for God that I love and adore. Thank yuo God for bringing me to this church! I actually DESIRE to go to church. I don't dread it. I love it. Cool. Here is a shout out to all of yas.

Lastly, though I could go on and on, I am SOO blessed to tell you that my hand(s) are almost back to full, painless strength. Praise you God. I can't even put it into proper words how happy I am about this.

For those that don't know, I was diagnosed with tendonitis, and ended up with it in both hands. For a computer junkie and journalist, this was a real blow to me.Glory to God for healing me and thanks to all of you who prayed for me!

One more thing, if you are saved, Do Not Fear (Joel 2:21), Do Not Fear (22), BE Strong and Courageous (Deuteronomy 31:6), BE Strong and Courageous (Joshua 1:9). Perfect love casts out ALL fear (1 John 1:18), Perfect love casts out ALL fear (1 John 1:18)

iPhone, iPod Touch, Now the Bod-Fi

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Hopefully that headline has enough buzz words to land me a hit or two.

For those that aren't in touch with the latest and greatest gadgets, Apple just announced an iPod that can do everything that the iPhone can, minus the phone, and for $100 -200 less. Furthermore, Apple has dropped the price of the actual iPhone $200 for their 8gb model, and will be phasing out the 4gb model.

I would provide links. Instead, just go to Engadget.

So, this must really irk those that bought the iPhone on release. 200 dollars less. The good news:you stil have your iPhone and it still does more than the iPod Touch. As for the 200 bucks, that is unfortunately the price of this premium.

On another note:


These days you need a CAT 5 cable running from your veins to keep in touch with all the gadgeting going on. Kinda sucks. Kinda rocks.

Come to think of it, I am a bit outdated. Cat 5 is sooooo 20th century. Instead, why not have wi-fi built directly into the body and a chip with Safari attached to our retinas? I call it Bod-Fi. You heard it here first folks.

Now, lets take a look at that Hit Counter...

Blogging About Nothing to Blog About

Something to blog about. My kingdom for an idea.
And nothing springs to mind.

Here I sit, cruising over the headlines of at least 100 RSS headlines, with nothing that is worthy of note. Horrible.

Sure, there is plenty going on in the world, just nothing worth writing a blog about. Now that is news because those who know me know that I love to talk... alot.

It think I need a focus for my writing. That seems to be what all of the popular blogs advise and do.
I just am having trouble picking. Almost everything out there interests me to some degree. Maybe I should start two blogs like ShawnBlanc.

Naw, I should at least hit 101 total hits before I do that. (I currently have over 90 including my own.)

Something Positive

It's a good idea to say positive things, especially about the goodness of God. Even more so when one is not feeling so good.

So, without further adeu...

Good thing #1: I am able to clearly get IHOP's Audio webcast. Very thankful for this. I find that whenever I am at a prayer/intimacy slump in my relationship with God, He loves to use this cast to bring me back. w00t [wow loot for the non-geeks out there] indeed!

Good thing #2: God has given me a check in my spirit about going to the beach, and confirmed it with not one but two other people sp far. Guess I won't be going. I am so glad that He talks to me. I mean, He doesn't have to y'know. He CHOOSES to... that's just cool and more.

Good thing # 3 (because things have to come in threes): I got to work with Bob today. Y'know I love this guy. What a good heart. The man is a true blessing to me. And Travis. Gosh, I love this guy! Not saved, he truly puts saved people to shame in so many areas, especially his generosity. Like randomly buying me a red Gatorade. Tasty.
And Caleb. Evertime this former co-worker / best friend of mine/ awesome brother of God enters the store, it changes the ENTIRE atmosphere. he carries the presence of God with him wherever he goes.

Good thing #4 (because three is not enough): The lyrics, "Holy,Holy,Holy Open up our eyes to see," straight from the IHOP webcast about 45 seconds ago.

and the thank yous go on and on: Shawn blanc's many many blogs such as The Fight Spot, Randy Bohlender from stuff i think, Jackson Bohlender because the dude is just hilarious and downright honest, Trevor for being a good bud and carrying me through some difficult fires, and so on!

So thank you God for all of them and this.: My hands are working. AMEN AMEN AMEN! w00t! w00t! w00t! Thank you God Amen! Amen! Amen!

People are ready. Its harvest time!

So, here I am, in line at the campus bookstore...boring boring right? Wrong!
I was on my way to the bookstore and I saw a girl in long sleeves. In the summer.
Then I saw another girl, clutching a paper in her hand,crying, and I realized something (or should I say that God opened my eyes): this campus is ripe for the harvest. These people want to be saved. They want God!
God wants broken people folks. Those that know they can't do it on there own. Here they are God. Use me...I'll keep ya posted.
Sent via BlackBerry from T-Mobile

Oops

Y'know,
several days--weeks-- millenia--scratch that last one-- have passed since my last posting. Oops.

The last post I made was (and still is) horrible. It's one big complaint! And not a righteous one.

To sum it up:
I whined that my hand was hurting. Mostly wondering why God hadn't healed it yet.
And then at the end I blamed it on you guys-gals. Not cool. I am sorry. Very sorry.

And to God. I am VERY SORRY. You Lord want rejoicers, not complainers.
So I am sorry. To You Lord, and to those that read/have read my blog.

God bless you all,

In Him and most definitely for Him (and in love with Him!),

Enough is enough

I am tired of powerless Christianity. As I write to you, I type angry, angry that I am still writing one-handed (mostly) when my God is far above everything, full of love and dying to show it.

Y'see, in the Old Testament Abraham was likened to God as His Friend. God listened to Abraham, even when Abraham talked to God in a way that would have had me watching out for lightning bolts. Why? They had a bond, a promise to each other, unbreakable by ANYTHING.
I have that too.

Where am I going with this?

In Acts, everywhere the disciples went, people saw God working, inside and out. Today, people in other counties get healed on the spot. Rarely here.

Imagine for a second: You're on a university campus. There is a paralyzed, mentally disabled boy in a wheel chair. Drool leaks out of the right side of his mouth because that part of his brain has been damaged since birth. Why is he here? Who knows? but you are moved with compassion, the good kind, and you walk over to him and in Jesus name touch him. His head looks up, and he closes mouth. Then, he walks. What if?

I need Him in a way that I never have before. I am desperate for Jesus. I am desperate to know Him in all ways. I am desperate to see broken people walk and broken hearts whole. Guys, we need Him in this way.
No more programs. No more studies of the Word without THE WORD. Just Jesus. Its the Kingdom of God guys. Romans 14 stuff. His love for me, mine for Him. No more, no less. I laugh at anything else.
Please.
Get mad.
Get restless.
And pour out your hearts to Him.
Not later. Now.
Now. Now. Now.
Stop reading this blog
Get up Now and Pray.
I want to write with my left hand again. Soon.

Rules for Changing a Faucet or Toilet Supply Line

Working at a local hardware store teaches one a thing or two: in this case three:

Rule #1. Set aside a minimum of 1-2 hours for the job. This will leave room for any unforeseen circumstances, such as having a valve that has over 20 yrs of corrosion, or that the valve is of the older, aluminum tubing style...in which case it too will need to be replaced. This leads us to Rule #2

Rule #2. Make sure to turn off the valve before unscrewing anything. This may sound obvious...but its not. This is a pressurized line.

Rule #3. It ain't always easy.
Y'see, supply lines come in many threads and many sizes. Pipe thread (known as FIP) and Compression thread (Comp. or C) are the main ones.
In my experience, 1/2FIP x 1/2FIP is the most common supply line for a Delta faucet.

Simon

Man spends 19 yrs in a coma. People have cell phones.

Yesterday, Reuters announced that after having spent 19 yrs. in an accident induced coma, Jan Grzebski is awake.
This guy's wife took care of him, changing his position EVERY HOUR OF EVERY DAY. That is dedication folks.

That got me to thinkin', if a fallen human has that kind of dedication to her spouse, how much more does my perfect God have toward me? Amazing.

A lot has happened in these past 19 yrs:

-The cellular phone rose to popularity, becoming smaller than Smart's Shoephone. Speaking of which, I still want one of those, even though my phone is a 10th of the weight with 10 times as many functions.

- Computers are everywhere.

- Manufacturers now compress fruit into tear-able candies.

Happy Repeat Day!

That's right folks. Another Repeat Day is upon us. "What is Repeat Day," you might ask? Why, its just the most annoying holiday ever. Right next to National Yo-Yo Day.

Here is to another Repeat Day.
Here is to another...ah gosh, I can't do it. Bah humbug to Repeat Day.

I'm more of a National Chocolate Ice Cream Day kind a' guy anyway.

JFK Bomb plot foiled...no one cares

TVs shined and radios roared as news stations pumped the American public with yet another world-about-to-end story. At least that's the angle I gathered from my 2 minutes in front of the brainless box.
Not to undermine the severity of the situation, but it turned out that the JFK Airport "bomb plot" was foiled by The FBI while still in the planning stages. This just propagates fear and ticks me off.
I, personally, am still baffled as to why cable news exists. My former journalism mentor said that 90% of all questions can be answered with one word: Money. Someone somewhere along the line said that math is the universal language.
Advertising=Money. Eight ball, corner pocket.

Advice: Take a break from the TV, at least the news. You'll find yourself more happy and less stressed. Instead, read something wholesome and encouraging.

Thumper riding a rocket

Today at work, my boss's daughter told me that their old WWII jeep had a toon on it...of that lovable rabbit Thumper riding a rocket.
This got me thinking. This picture, this logo represented the person or persons driving it. Risk takers. Maybe men who fired rockets. I don't know. But I wonder...
If I had a logo, what would it be?
I honestly don't know.
In the Greek, Logos means word or The Word.
I am going to pull that out of context and have it mean the sum total of who a person is to be. A logo ought to represent where one is going, a goal.
I don't know what mine looks like, and that's ok. God does. I'm hoping that one day it will look like Jesus did carrying his cross.
He's my hero.

How about you?